Harmanpreet
Singh scores twice as India successfully defend continental crown; skipper
becomes first Indian captain to win two Asian Games hockey golds
THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
KAKAMIGAHARA,
OCTOBER 3, 2026
The Indian men’s
hockey team etched its name in the history of the Asian Games on Saturday,
retaining its continental crown with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia in
the final here.
In becoming the first
Indian men’s hockey team to successfully defend its Asian Games title, India
also completed a rare double in Japan, with both the men’s and women’s teams
winning hockey gold medals in the same edition of the Games.
Captain Harmanpreet
Singh led from the front, scoring twice through penalty-corner drag-flicks,
while Jugraj Singh, Hardik Singh and Shilanand Lakra also found the net as
India produced its joint-biggest victory in an Asian Games final.
The margin equalled
India’s 5-1 triumph over Japan in the 2023 Hangzhou final.
The victory gave India
its fifth Asian Games men’s hockey gold, following title-winning campaigns in
1966, 1998, 2014 and 2023. It also brought another landmark for Harmanpreet,
who became the first Indian captain to lead the men’s team to two Asian Games
hockey gold medals.
Veteran playmaker
Manpreet Singh added another distinction to an already historic evening,
winning his third Asian Games gold medal, making him the only Indian hockey
player to achieve the feat.
The final began
cautiously, with Malaysia wary of conceding an early goal and both teams using
aerial balls to gain territory. Neither side was able to impose sustained
control in the opening exchanges.
India threatened in
the fifth minute when Harmanpreet intercepted a Malaysian move and helped
launch an attack. Vivek Sagar Prasad, however, could not keep his reverse-stick
effort on target.
India finally broke
through in the 11th minute. Harmanpreet’s long slap-push found Hardik Singh on
the right, and Hardik set up Abhishek, who earned India its first penalty
corner.
After a re-take,
Harmanpreet stepped up and sent a low drag-flick through the centre of the
goal, beating goalkeeper Zaimi Deris Mat to put India 1-0 ahead.
In the 14th minute,
Shello Silverius controlled a scoop pass inside the Indian circle and struck on
the volley past Suraj Karkera to restore parity. India came close to regaining
the lead moments later, but Dilpreet Singh’s effort was kept out by Deris Mat.
Malaysia continued to
pose a threat in the second quarter, forcing India goalkeeper Mohith HS into an
important save after a turnover. A subsequent Malaysian penalty corner was also
survived after Faizal Saari’s flick struck Manpreet.
With Harmanpreet off
the field, Jugraj Singh assumed responsibility at a penalty corner and
unleashed a powerful drag-flick into the corner to make it 2-1.
Malaysia pushed for
another equaliser before the interval, but India’s defence stood firm to
preserve its narrow advantage at half-time.
India continued to
attack after the resumption, repeatedly using the right flank through Hardik
Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh. The pressure eventually yielded a decisive
opportunity in the 42nd minute.
Sanjay created a
penalty corner, following which a variation involving Harmanpreet and Mandeep
Singh resulted in the ball striking a Malaysian defender on the goal-line.
Malaysia challenged the decision through a video referral, but the appeal was
unsuccessful.
Hardik Singh made no
mistake from the resulting penalty stroke, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way
to give India a 3-1 lead.
Malaysia now faced an
uphill task, while India continued to press.
Rajinder Singh came
close in the 50th minute and India subsequently subjected the Malaysian defence
to a prolonged spell of penalty-corner pressure.
India’s persistence
was rewarded in the 54th minute.
Shilanand Lakra
combined with Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh before finishing from close range to
make it 4-1 and effectively settle the contest.
There was still time
for Harmanpreet to add another chapter to his memorable evening.
India earned another
penalty corner in the 57th minute and the captain duly delivered, firing a
powerful drag-flick beyond the Malaysian defence for his second goal of the
final.
The 5-1 scoreline remained unchanged as India completed a historic title defence.
After an evenly contested opening half, India’s greater control, sustained attacking pressure and efficiency at crucial moments separated the two sides. The victory not only retained the Asian Games crown but also placed Harmanpreet Singh and his team in the record books as the first Indian men’s hockey side to successfully defend its continental title.
Photo Credit: Asian Hockey Federation
