India still a step away from Hockey World Cup berth

New Delhi: There's slight assumption involved when we say India have qualified for the World Cup, which in true sense isn't confirmed yet despite India's win and Pakistan's defeat on Friday in the two semi-finals of the 9th Asia Cup being held in Ipoh.

Pakistan went down to South Korea 1-2, ending their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. It will be the first time that the four-time World Cup winners, who designed and donated the World Cup trophy, won't be part of the quadrennial event since its inception in 1971.

India, though, kept their hopes alive with a 2-0 victory in the second semi-final against hosts Malaysia and will now meet South Korea in the final on Sunday. India's win led to a wave of congratulatory messages, saying it has also earned them a place in the World Cup, which is only 'virtually' true. In case South Korea successfully defend their Asia Cup title, the Oceania championship will decide India's fate. This is how:

There are two gates from where Malaysia and India can sneak into the World Cup - Asia and Oceania. Malaysia are among the first reserves after finishing fifth at the Hockey World League semi-final in Johor Bahru and India among second reserves as a result of their 6th-place finish in Rotterdam.

If Korea beat India in the Asia Cup final, then Malaysia go through from Asia as first reserves since Korea have already qualified, thanks to Argentina winning the Pan American championships.

In that scenario, India will await the winner of Oceania championship that will be fought between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Since Australia and New Zealand have already qualified for the World Cup and one of them is expected to win Oceania, India will benefit from the vacant Oceania spot to qualify as second reserve.

Even India's interim chief coach Roelant Oltmans confirmed that in his tweet after India beat Malaysia on Friday. "Great day in Ipoh . Close to qualifying for the World Cup. Won the semi-finals versus Malaysia 2-0," he tweeted.

So bottom line for India is this: Beat Korea in the Asia Cup final on Sunday for a sure-shot World Cup spot.