Kakamigahara, Japan, 3 Oct (Sports Desk)
India defeated Malaysia 5-1 in the men’s hockey final at the 2026 Asian Games to successfully defend their continental title and secure a direct qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The final was played at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara on Saturday. Captain Harmanpreet Singh starred with two goals, while Jugraj Singh, Hardik Singh and Shilanand Lakra also found the net for India.
Harmanpreet opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful penalty-corner strike. Malaysia responded just three minutes later through Shello Silverius, who controlled a long aerial pass before finishing brilliantly to level the score.
India regained the lead in the second quarter when Jugraj Singh converted a powerful drag flick in the 23rd minute. The Indian defence and goalkeeper Mohith Shashikumar then kept Malaysia from finding another equaliser.
India extended their advantage in the third quarter. After a series of penalty corners, the team was awarded a penalty stroke following a Malaysian foot inside the circle. Hardik Singh stepped up and calmly converted in the 42nd minute to make it 3-1.
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With Malaysia forced to attack in search of a comeback, India found more opportunities on the counter. Shilanand Lakra scored in the 54th minute, registering India’s only field goal of the match.
Harmanpreet then added his second goal in the 57th minute from another penalty corner, completing India’s 5-1 victory.
The triumph marked India’s fifth Asian Games men’s hockey gold medal and their first successful defence of the title. The victory also earned the Indian men’s hockey team a direct berth at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The achievement was particularly significant for Manpreet Singh, who became the first Indian hockey player to win three Asian Games gold medals.
India’s scorers: Harmanpreet Singh (11’, 57’), Jugraj Singh (23’), Hardik Singh (42’), Shilanand Lakra (54’)
Malaysia’s scorer: Shello Silverius (14’)
