South Korea whip India in final

India were handed a 6-1 drubbing by Asian Games gold medallists South Korea in the final of the four-nation Prince Takamado Cup hockey tournament in Gifu, Japan, on Tuesday.

The Koreans, who had beaten India 3-2 in the league stage, went on a scoring spree after Yi Chong Sin put them ahead in the 16th minute and then added another goal a minute later. Sin completed a hat-trick in the 40th minute.

Hwang Chong-Hyon (25th minute), So Chong Ho (57th ) and Yu Ko Sik (59th) accounted for the other goals South Korea scored.

Sandeep Michael scored India's lone goal in the 28th minute.

The Koreans proved to be the nemesis for India in the women's section of the event as well, beating them 0-4 in the play-off for third place.

The Indian men, who just about made it to the final after Japan lost their match to South Korea, failed to rise to the occasion.

The Indian team, comprising mostly youngsters, were caught napping when Chong-Son, the tournament's highest scorer, scored in the 16th and 17th minutes.

The Koreans made it 3-0 in the 25th minute when Hwang Chong-Hyon hit a reverse flick off a rebound.

Stung by the reverse, India launched a counter-attack and their efforts paid off when young Sandeep Michael sounded the board in the 28th minute.

But that was about all for the Indians as the Koreans returned with a vengeance after the break to slam three more goals through Yi, who completed his hat-trick with a goal in the 40th minute, So Chong-Ho (57th) and Yu Ko-sik (59th).

Although the Koreans were superior, the Indians were a trifle unlucky as two golden opportunities went amiss when Jatinderpal Singh's shot hit the left post and Vivek Gupta's shot was stopped by alert Korean goalkeeper Ko Tong-Sik.

Tong-Sik was superb under the bar, bringing off some brilliant saves to keep the Indians at bay.

Hosts Japan finished third after they beat China 3-1 in the play-off for the third place. Nishimura (39th), Yasui (54th) and Noda (60th) scored for the winners.

The women's title was clinched by Japan, who pipped China 2-1 through goals by Miura (16th) and Komori (62nd).

The Indian women hardly showed any semblance of resistance as they finished a dismal fourth and last, losing the play-off for the third place to South Korea.

Yi Mi-Song (4), Oh Ko-Woon (33, 51) and Kim Yun-Mi (60) scored for the Koreans.