KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 22: Asian Games gold medallist India stormed into the semi-finals of the Asia Cup hockey beating Hong Kong 5-0 in a Pool B match after hosts Malaysia had struggled against Japan before making it to the last four stage today.For India it was a laboured win as they struggled against an ordinary Hong Kong defence. India, with this win, topped Pool B with seven points. Malaysia have five points and thus finish second behind India.India took the lead in the second minute off their first penalty corner. It came off a move by Dhanraj Pillay who went into the circle but was rushed by goalkeeper Chak Tung Cheung. Anurag Raghuvanshi's flick to the top corner of the net was good.The Indian forwards kept on fumbling with easy chances, and it took the 18th minute to break the impasse. Pillay and Baljit singh Chandi moved in to pass the ball to Deepak Thakur whose reverse hit went into the Hong Kong goal off their own defender's stick for a 2-0 lead.India had six penalty corners in the firsthalf and except for the first one that was converted by Anurag Raghuvanshi, none of the others came off.Bringing in Bimal Lakra in the second half paid off. He latched on to a stray ball and with a reverse hit from the top of the circle scored India's third goal in the 37th minute.Two minutes later, Baljit Singh Dhillon wove into the circle from the right flank after a move with Gagan Ajit, beat one defender and then with a low shot beat the Hong Kong goalkeeper to take the score to 4-0.In the 54th minute, Pillay scored his first goal of the tournament when he latched onto a pass from Ramandeep Singh to fluently put the ball past the goalkeeper. India now take on South Korea or Pakistan in the semi-finals on November 26. Earlier, hosts Malaysia came back from the dead with only eight minutes left to draw Japan 2-2. In another match, Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka 7-1.-PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
