India opened its campaign in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in Ipoh on Sunday.
Mohammed Raheel scored in the 15th minute to secure three points and push India to the top of the standings.
Returning to the prestigious tournament after six years, India fielded a second-string side but showed aggression from the start. Dilpreet Singh pressed high and set up Raheel with a neat passing buildup, allowing him to slot home the decisive goal. Captain Sanjay, a member of the Paris Olympic bronze medal-winning squad, and midfielder Abhishek controlled the tempo in the first half.
India forced Korea into defensive work early, earning a penalty corner in the fourth minute. Sanjay’s attempt was saved by the goalkeeper, but the pressure remained constant. Korea nearly equalised in the 27th minute when a forward slid to connect with a pass in front of the goal but missed narrowly. India held its 1-0 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, India continued to dominate, earning another penalty corner through Abhishek, though the shot went off target. The final quarter saw India tighten its defence, leaving little room for Korea to attack.
The match, scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. IST, was delayed by more than six hours due to heavy rain. Despite the disruption, India maintained focus and secured a crucial opening win.
India will next face Belgium on Monday in the round-robin format, where each team plays five matches. A win earns three points, while a draw secures one.
