25 November,2010 01:09 PM IST | | Agencies
Former champions India returned to the Asian Games men's hockey podium after four years when they defeated favourites South Korea 1-0 in the bronze medal play-off on Thursday.
Tushar Khandekar netted the winner four minutes into the second session as India dominated the lacklustre Koreans through the 70-minute encounter at the Aoti Hockey Centre.
India did not win an Asiad hockey medal for the first time at the 2006 Doha Games and paid the price when they failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics two years ago.
The eight-time Olympic champions had won the Asian Games titles in 1966 and 1998.
South Korea, winners at the last two editions in Busan and Doha, were denied a hat-trick when they lost to Pakistan in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals.
The last time the Koreans finished fourth was in Beijing in 1990.
Pakistan take on Malaysia in the final later on Thursday.
