Kakamigahara, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s primary objectives at the Asian Games have been to win the men’s hockey gold medal and secure qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, defender Jarmanpreet Singh said after the defending champions defeated Pakistan 4-3 to reach the final on Thursday.
India survived a strong Pakistan comeback in a tense semifinal at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium. After taking a 3-0 lead through Harmanpreet Singh, who scored twice, and Sukhjeet Singh, India conceded three goals to see the match levelled in the final quarter. Abhishek struck the decisive goal with around 40 seconds remaining to seal India’s place in the title clash.
Jarmanpreet said the team had approached the tournament one match at a time, with the semifinal victory marking an important step towards its broader goals.
“Our main target from the start was to win the gold medal here and qualify for the Olympics. We went match by match, and even today our focus was on winning this match first and reaching the final,” he told IANS.
He said the team remained focused on giving its best despite the pressure and intensity of the India-Pakistan encounter. Jarmanpreet acknowledged Pakistan’s performance, describing them as a strong opponent, while expressing satisfaction with India’s ability to secure the win.
Defender Sanjay credited the team’s unity and mutual support for helping India navigate the difficult phases of the semifinal.
“We supported and motivated each other regardless of the score. What matters is what the score is when the 60 minutes are over and whether you feel that you did what you had planned,” Sanjay said.
He added that the players remained committed to their game plan, regardless of the opposition or the atmosphere surrounding the contest.
India will now turn its attention to the gold-medal match, where victory would bring it closer to achieving both its tournament objectives.
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