Kakamigahara, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India scripted history by successfully defending their men’s hockey gold medal at the Asian Games for the first time, defeating Malaysia 5-1 in a commanding final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Saturday. The victory also secured India a direct qualification berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh led the charge with a brace, while Jugraj Singh, Hardik Singh and Shilanand Lakra also scored as the Indian team completed a dominant campaign under pressure to retain its continental crown.
The triumph marked India’s fifth men’s hockey gold medal at the Asian Games, following their previous title victories in 1966, 1998, 2014 and 2022. It was also the first time that the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold medals at the same edition of the continental event, with the women’s team having defeated Paris Olympics silver medallists China in their final.
Harmanpreet’s side entered the title clash in impressive form after winning all five of their group-stage matches. India had also survived a challenging semifinal against arch-rivals Pakistan, securing a 4-3 victory after surrendering a three-goal advantage. Abhishek scored in the final minute to send India into the final.
India began the gold-medal match aggressively, making repeated circle entries before Harmanpreet opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner.
Malaysia responded through Shello Silverius, who scored from the left flank after finding space in the Indian defence. Goalkeeper Suraj Karkera was unable to stop the effort, leaving the two teams level at 1-1 at the end of the first quarter.
India regained the lead in the second quarter when Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner in the 23rd minute to make it 2-1. Malaysia continued to put pressure on the Indian defence, earning penalty corners of their own, but India maintained their advantage heading into half-time.
The Indian team stepped up its attacking intensity after the break, controlling possession and forcing Malaysia to defend deep. India earned multiple penalty corners before being awarded a penalty stroke when the ball struck the body of a Malaysian defender on the goal line. Hardik Singh converted the opportunity to extend India’s lead to 3-1 by the end of the third quarter.
India continued to dictate the proceedings in the final quarter, restricting Malaysia’s attacking opportunities while creating chances through counterattacks. Shilanand Lakra scored India’s fourth goal in the 54th minute, capitalising on a deflection inside the circle.
Harmanpreet then completed his brace with another successful penalty-corner conversion, taking India’s lead to 5-1 and sealing a comprehensive victory.
The win capped an outstanding tournament for the Indian men, who demonstrated consistency throughout the competition and overcame a stern challenge from Pakistan in the semifinals before delivering a decisive performance in the final.
India’s latest triumph adds to its rich history in Asian Games hockey. The men’s team has also finished runners-up nine times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1994 and 2002, while securing bronze medals in 1986, 2010 and 2018.
The gold medal and direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics provide another milestone for Indian hockey, with both the men’s and women’s teams emerging as champions at the 2026 Asian Games.
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