IAichi-Nagoya: India retained its men’s hockey gold medal at the Asian Games with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia in the final on Saturday, securing consecutive titles at the continental showpiece and booking a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The triumph took India’s overall medal tally to 85, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.
India made an aggressive start and earned their first penalty corner in the 12th minute, with captain Harmanpreet Singh converting through a powerful drag-flick to put his side ahead.
Malaysia responded two minutes later when Shello Silverius finished a move from the left to level the contest. India continued to press and regained the lead in the 23rd minute as Jugraj Singh converted another penalty corner, giving India a 2-1 advantage at half-time.
The Indian side continued to dominate possession after the break and extended its lead in the 43rd minute. A penalty stroke was awarded after the ball struck the body of a Malaysian defender, with Hardik Singh making no mistake from the spot.
India then produced a late surge, scoring twice within three minutes. Shilanand Lakra finished from close range in the 55th minute before Harmanpreet added his second goal of the evening from a penalty corner in the 57th minute to make it 5-1.
India comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to seal another Asian Games hockey title.
The victory marked India’s fifth men’s hockey gold at the Asian Games, following triumphs in 1966, 1998, 2014 and 2022. It was also the first time the Indian men’s team successfully defended its Asian Games title.
Earlier in the Games, the Indian women’s hockey team had also won gold, making this the first edition in which both Indian hockey teams finished at the top of the podium. Hockey has now joined cricket and kabaddi as the Indian team sports to achieve a men’s and women’s gold-medal double at the Asian Games.
