The decibel ranges rose dramatically on the Kalinga Stadium. If one would have had their eyes shut, they’d assume that India had been scoring targets, racing away to victory. Only that India have already been knocked out of the competitors for the highest spot and can play classification video games 320km away in Rourkela.
Despite the house crew being eradicated, followers turned out in big numbers to assist the one Asian crew left within the World Cup – South Korea. With the roughly 12,000 supporting each ahead push the Koreans had been making, the world No 9 crew fought again from 3-5 all the way down to not simply degree the scores at 5-5 however ultimately oust 2016 Rio Olympic champions Argentina on Sunday by a 3-2 margin within the shootout – arguably the largest upset of the event.
The shootout was nothing in need of dramatic. Every Korean objective was cheered and each save by Kim Jaehyeon was celebrated within the stands. After Kim saved the ultimate Argentine try by Martin Ferreiro, the Korean goalkeeper rushed in direction of the stands to acknowledge the assist along with his crew engulfing him for loopy celebrations with water changing the unavailable champagne.
“India being Olympic bronze medallists, Asia’s leader, a high-ranking team, it was very sad to see them going out in the crossovers by losing the shootout. Then Malaysia and Japan also did not make the quarter-finals. So, there was pressure on Korea as the only Asian team left,” mentioned South Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo, who gained two Asian Games gold medals in 1994 and 2002 aside from the 2000 silver on the Olympics.
Korea’s hockey journey started within the mid-Eighties. To put together for his or her first-ever Olympics in 1988 Seoul, they put collectively a crew for the 1986 Asian Games, additionally held in South Korea’s Seongnam. After testing gamers by numerous athletic disciplines, South Korea created historical past by profitable gold in 1986. In the following 10 years, a rustic with no hockey historical past grew to become the undisputed kings of Asia with skillful gamers utilizing distinctive methods, lobs and aerial balls – unfamiliar to the sport again then.
From 1994 to 2006, South Korea reached the finals of all 4 Asian Games, profitable three. They reached the finals of the Asia Cup 5 out of six occasions from 1994 to 2013, profitable 4. They additionally gained the 2022 Asia Cup when India despatched a second-string facet to Jakarta. In World Cups, they completed fourth twice in 2002 and 2006. But their best success was a silver medal end on the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
But the East Asian nation’s requirements and fortunes have declined within the final decade. They did not qualify for each Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and missed the reduce for the 2018 World Cup right here.
But Odisha 2023 falls in good stead forward of the Hangzhou Asian Games later this yr. A come-from-behind victory over a crew that stood atop the Olympic podium solely seven years in the past in an important World Cup knockout sport speaks volumes about their aspirations. Significantly, the winner of the 2023 Asian Games will get direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, that means the South Koreans might additionally hamper India’s probabilities.
“After a long time we are playing a World Cup. The last was 2014. Considering that, our entry into the quarter-finals is fantastic. Fourteen of our players are playing their first World Cup while six are experienced. We have a young team who have a bright future. Our target is to win the Hangzhou Asian Games,” mentioned Shin, who was a part of the Olympic silver medal-winning squad in 2000.
To beat Argentina, the Koreans weren’t simply all excessive press but in addition a powerful defensive unit, particularly within the final quarter when Argentina elevated their assaults. After thwarting Los Leones, the Koreans toppled South Americans within the shootout to enter their first World Cup final eight since New Delhi 2010.
“Our boys had the confidence. I am so happy that an Asian team is in the quarter-finals. My boys are young. On some days they play very well, on other days not. They will take more time, training and experience. Maybe they will take 2-3 years to develop into a strong team,” added the top coach, who additionally performed within the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
Hockey is a small sport in South Korea roughly having 10,000 beginner gamers out of which solely 500 take it up professionally. The quantity reduces to 150-200 who play on the elite degree in 5 college groups and 4 golf equipment – Seongnam, Gimhae, Incheon and the Army. The nationwide league commences in March and ends in October.
The outfit had a busy finish of 2022 as they performed the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in November, the Nations Cup in December after which they went to Spain for apply video games, returned dwelling for under two days earlier than heading out to India.
“We prepared for long which is why we have been successful here. Our players have got good individual skill, the team is strong but it will not be easy in the quarter-finals. I told the team to focus on basic skills like ball control, open receiving, how to get kick in attacking, how to defend. Our opposition here have very good skills. We are preparing for a better future. This competition is a good experience for the young boys. I hope they will have the confidence for the quarter-finals,” mentioned the coach.
The hero of the Korean crew within the shootouts, Kim feels the quarter-final goes to be powerful. “Holland is the No 1 team in this tournament. We saw their group stage matches. They are the only team to have won every single group game. They are a very strong team, scoring plenty of goals,” mentioned Kim.
The Netherlands have to date scored 22 targets – the second highest within the event after Australia – and are the one crew aside from England to haven’t conceded even one objective. But they too are usually not taking South Korea for evenly. “We don’t underestimate them. We are really focussing on how to beat them. I didn’t expect them to beat Argentina. On paper Argentina is a better team. But in a tournament a lot of things can happen. Everything is possible. We saw yesterday South Korea is a really good team with penalty corner specialists,” mentioned Dutch ahead Thijs van Dam.
