Kakamigahara, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Harmanpreet Singh has urged his team to maintain composure while retaining its intensity ahead of the Asian Games 2026 men’s hockey final, after India edged past Pakistan 4-3 in a dramatic semifinal on Thursday.
India appeared to be in control after building a 3-0 lead, but Pakistan fought back to level the score at 3-3 early in the fourth quarter. Abhishek’s late goal secured India’s place in Friday’s gold-medal match, where they will face either South Korea or Malaysia.
Reflecting on the semifinal, Harmanpreet acknowledged that India’s early momentum was undermined by avoidable errors but said the team managed to create a decisive opportunity when it mattered.
“We started really well and gained momentum, but we started making mistakes then. We know our structure and positions were good with the ball, and in the last moment we created an opportunity and scored. It’s a good lesson for us before the final,” he said, stressing that India must avoid giving their opponents opportunities.
Harmanpreet also felt India could have extended its lead in the second half, particularly after Pakistan were reduced to 10 players following a yellow card. Despite creating chances, India could not fully capitalise on the numerical advantage.
The captain said the team had been instructed to approach the third quarter as a fresh start, regardless of its three-goal advantage at halftime. He highlighted the need to maintain energy and structure while improving individual defensive efforts, particularly in one-on-one situations.
Recalling the message during the tense closing stages, Harmanpreet said the team was told to “stay calm” and ensure that “the fire should be in your heart.” He added that India managed possession well in the final moments before creating the opportunity that led to the winning goal.
The victory sent India into the men’s hockey final for the second consecutive Asian Games edition. Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams have reached their respective finals for the first time since 1998.
India will now look to turn the lessons from its semifinal comeback scare into a composed performance in the gold-medal clash.
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