India complete historic hockey double, retain Asian Games men's gold
Gifu, Oct 3 (UNI) India completed a historic golden double in hockey at the Asian Games here on Saturday, retaining the men's title with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia and joining the women's team at the top of the podium for the first time at the same edition of the continental Games.
The victory gave India its fifth Asian Games men's hockey gold and marked the country's first successful defence of the men's title. It also secured India a direct qualification berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The triumph came less than 24 hours after the Indian women's team defeated China in the final, creating a historic hockey double for the country at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. India's men's gold-medal haul in Asian Games hockey now stands at five, after the titles in 1966, 1998, 2014, 2023 and 2026.
South Korea have won the men's title four times - in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. Captain Harmanpreet Singh spearheaded India's victory with two goals, while Jugraj Singh, Hardik Singh and Shilanand Lakra also found the net as India turned a competitive opening half into a comprehensive win. India started strongly and enjoyed 63 per cent possession in the early stages, but Malaysia showed its attacking threat and kept the final competitive. Harmanpreet opened India's account in the 11th minute with a trademark drag-flick from a penalty corner. Malaysia responded three minutes later when Shello Silverius smashed a half-volley into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. India restored its lead in the 23rd minute.
With Harmanpreet not taking the penalty corner, Jugraj Singh stepped up and fired his drag-flick into the bottom-left corner. Malaysia continued to press for an equaliser and earned penalty-corner opportunities, but Indian goalkeeper Mohith produced an important save to keep the Malaysians at bay. India entered half-time with a 2-1 advantage. The defending champions then took control in the third quarter. In the 42nd minute, India was awarded a penalty stroke after a goalmouth move, and Hardik Singh calmly converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 3-1.
The two-goal cushion allowed India to play with greater authority while Malaysia struggled to penetrate the Indian circle. India added a fourth in the 54th minute through Shilanand Lakra. Abhishek produced an excellent run along the baseline before cutting the ball back to Lakra at the far post, and the forward finished from close range. Harmanpreet then put the result beyond doubt three minutes later. India earned another penalty corner following a successful video referral. After the initial attempt was blocked, the ball fell to the captain, who unleashed a powerful drag-flick into the top-left corner to complete his brace and make it 5-1.
India continued to attack in the closing minutes, while Malaysia increasingly struggled to retain possession. The final whistle confirmed India's fifth men's Asian Games hockey gold and its first back-to-back titles in the competition. The victory also completed a remarkable 24-hour period for Indian hockey, with the women's team having secured gold against China a day earlier. The men's title had an additional significance as it guaranteed India a direct route to the Los Angeles Olympics, sparing the team the need to negotiate the continental qualification route. India had entered the Games as defending champions and topped its pool before overcoming Pakistan in the semifinal.
Malaysia also arrived in the final unbeaten, setting up a clash between two of the tournament's strongest sides. Pakistan earlier secured the men's bronze medal after beating South Korea 5-3. For India, however, the biggest achievement was the combination of two milestones - the men's successful defence of the Asian Games crown and a first-ever men's and women's hockey gold-medal sweep at the same Games.
UNI BDN
