MOQI, September 12 — The story begins with a cagey opening, the kind knockout hockey often produces, and ends with India’s junior women’s team booking a place in the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 final. India, the defending champions, beat South Korea 5-1 in the first semi-final in Moqi, China, on Saturday. Drag-flick specialist Supriya was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick through three penalty-corner conversions.
Both teams began cautiously, the knockout intensity producing a cagey opening phase. India settled into rhythm and broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Madhu Sidar finished a well-constructed attacking move to make it 1-0.
India dictated play in the second quarter, earning a penalty corner in the 17th minute. Supriya converted with a precise drag-flick to double the lead. In the 21st minute, a superbly directed aerial ball into the Korean 23-metre area found an Indian winger, whose well-timed cross into the circle was finished by Sukhveer Kaur for 3-0.
South Korea created a few opportunities before half-time, but India’s defence held firm to preserve the three-goal cushion at the interval. After the break, India extended their lead in the 33rd minute from another penalty corner, Supriya finding the target for her second goal and a 4-0 advantage.
South Korea found a breakthrough in the 41st minute when Yuri Jeong converted from a set-piece to reduce the deficit to 4-1, briefly raising hopes of a comeback. India remained disciplined in the final quarter, tightening their defensive structure and denying the Koreans any clear route back, while attacking purposefully at every opportunity. Their efforts were rewarded in the 56th minute with another penalty corner, and Supriya completed her hat-trick to seal the 5-1 victory.
What comes next
The defending champions now await the outcome of the China-Japan semi-final before turning their attention to the final, where they will look to complete another successful title defence. In a separate competition, the in-form India captain and drag-flicker Anmol Ekka scored two goals in a 3-1 win over Malaysia in the first semi-final on Friday in Moqi, China. India will face the winner of the second semi-final.
The source material also lists quarter-final results: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board beat Sports Authority of India 3-2; Railway Sports Promotion Board beat Central Board of Direct Taxes 2-0; and a third quarter-final involving the Comptroller & Auditor is referenced but its result is not stated in the source. The event is the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, held in Moqi, China, with the first semi-final on Saturday, 12 September 2026, and the second semi-final between China and Japan to determine India’s final opponent.
