The Korean men's hockey team defeated Sri Lanka, won 3 and lost 1... The 'Korea-Japan match' remains a watershed for the semifinals

(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang Hyeon-gu = The Korean men's national hockey team worked hard to advance to the medal zone for the second time in a row.

The national team led by coach Min Tae-seok defeated Sri Lanka 5-0 in the 4th game of Group A of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Kakamigahara Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Japan on the 26th.

They scored 4 goals from a penalty corner opportunity in the 4th quarter, leading 1-0, to decide the game.

Korea, which won three games against weak teams Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka and lost to the strongest team India, recorded 3 wins, 1 loss, and 9 points.

In the match that followed, India beat Japan 2-0, so Korea and Japan were tied in points and most wins. India secured first place in the group with 4 consecutive wins and 12 points.

Korea is significantly behind Japan (+23) in goal difference with +9, so in order to advance to the semifinals by finishing second in the group, they must win the final match between Korea and Japan, which will be held at the same venue at 5pm on the 28th.

Hockey group rankings are determined in the order of points - most wins - goal difference, and the first and second place in the group advance to the semifinals.

Like soccer, if you win you get 3 points, if you draw you get 1 point.

Our country won a bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Games.

◇ Results on the 26th (Gifu Prefecture Green Stadium)

Korea (3 wins, 1 loss) 5 (0-0 1-0 0-0 4-0)0 Sri Lanka (4 losses)