CM Majhi hails India hockey team's 8-1 rout of South Korea

Key Takeaways

India beat South Korea 8-1 in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 semifinal to advance to the final.

India will face Japan in the final of the tournament.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi extended congratulations on November 5, 2026 , citing 'skill, precision and teamwork'.

India ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought in hockey with bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .

India previously won the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy , making 2026 a potential title defence.

Odisha is a key institutional sponsor of Indian hockey and home to a major international hockey stadium in Rourkela .

An 8-1 demolition of South Korea — and a final berth secured. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, November 5 took to X to congratulate the Indian Men's Hockey Team on their commanding semifinal win at the Asian Champions Trophy 2026, calling it 'a spectacular display of skill, precision and teamwork.'

India did not just beat South Korea — they dismantled them. An eight-goal margin in a high-stakes continental semifinal signals a team firing on every cylinder, from set-piece conversion to open-play combination. CM Majhi's message captured exactly that energy, urging the side to 'keep the momentum high and the goals coming' as they prepare to face Japan in the final.

Odisha's deep stake in Indian hockey

The congratulations carry extra weight coming from the Chief Minister of Odisha. The state has become one of the most prominent backers of Indian hockey at the institutional level, with the Odisha government sponsoring the national men's and women's teams and lending its name to the country's marquee hockey stadium in Rourkela — a venue built for the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup. Majhi, who took office in June 2024 following the BJP's state election victory, has continued that tradition of support.

A team rebuilt on hard-won momentum

The arc of Indian men's hockey over the past few years reads like a classic comeback story. The side ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought by winning bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a result that lit a fresh fire under the sport nationwide. India then claimed the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, cementing their status as the dominant force in continental hockey. The 2026 edition looks set to extend that chapter. Semi-final performances of this magnitude — eight goals, clinical finishing, a defence that conceded just one — suggest India head into the final not just as favourites but as a team with a point to prove on the global stage. Japan will not be easy, but the momentum belongs entirely to the blue jerseys right now. If India lift the trophy, it will be another data point in a quietly extraordinary sporting renaissance — and one that leaders from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi have already lined up to celebrate.

Point of View

So the state government's enthusiasm tracks a real institutional relationship, not just political optics. The post also arrives at a moment when India's hockey revival is well past the 'promising signs' stage and into a sustained cycle of results, making each tournament deep-run a reinforcement of that narrative. For the BJP government in Odisha, associating with the team's success sustains a soft-power story around sports patronage that has bipartisan appeal in a hockey-passionate state. The final against Japan will be the next test of whether this momentum translates into silverware — and another round of political celebration if it does.

NationPress

5 Nov 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What was India's score against South Korea in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 semifinal?

India defeated South Korea 8-1 in the semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 to book their place in the final.

Who will India play in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 final?

India will face Japan in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 .

Why did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi congratulate the Indian hockey team?

CM Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated the team after their dominant 8-1 win over South Korea, reflecting Odisha's strong institutional support for Indian hockey.

Has India won the Asian Champions Trophy before?

Yes. India won the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy and have a strong history in the continental tournament.

What is Odisha's connection to Indian hockey?

The Odisha government sponsors the Indian national hockey teams and built a world-class stadium in Rourkela that hosted matches at the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup .