The double was formally completed, and the hockey men joined the women to book their Olympic ticket as India defended its Asian Games title in Kakamigahara on Saturday (October 3, 2026), defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final. The match itself, however, was much closer than the scoreline would indicate.
India began well and got an early lead in the 11th minute when Harmanpreet Singh converted the team’s second penalty corner. Three minutes later, Faiz Jali’s free hit from just outside the circle saw Shello Silverius smash the ball past half a dozen players to level. Another three minutes later, Sumit was instrumental in saving three back-to-back PCs. India survived.
India's Jugraj Singh celebrates after the second goal against Malaysia in the men’s hockey final at the Asian Games in Japan on October 03, 2026. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
That first quarter was, in many ways, a microcosm of the entire match. Messy, chaotic with no clear winner on the field, both teams creating chances to score and wasting them, as much as due to their own profligacy as the opposition’s defending.
There were errors from both sides but India managed to absorb the relentless pressure from the Malaysian counterattacks much better.
Malaysia was not short on experience — the Saari brothers Fitri and Faisal along with Shello and captain Marhan Jalil are no spring chicken; it was, however, short on players with big-match exposure and big-game temperament, and that made all the difference.
The Indian men’s hockey team celebrates after defeating Malaysia in the final at the Asian Games in Japan on October 03, 2026. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
Hardik Singh continues to be the engine powering this Indian team and with Manpreet and Vivek Sagar Prasad, was largely responsible for India scampering for possession, both of the ball and the turf. A 23rd minute PC from Jugraj Singh put India ahead at half time.
Post break, the high press continued from Malaysia but the Indians took everything and stood firm. Mandeep’s deflection of a Harmanpreet flick on India’s seventh PC earned the team a penalty stroke, Hardik making no mistake in slamming the board; 3-1 to India with 18 minutes left on the clock.
Six consecutive PCs in the 53rd minute went waste, only for Shilanand Lakra, at the far post, to deflect Sukhjeet’s reverse swing after being put through by Abhishek in a minute later.
𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞-𝗧𝗢-𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗦! 🇮🇳🏆🥇Harmanpreet Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian captain to lead the Men's Hockey Team to two Asian Games gold medals, and… pic.twitter.com/bTIHUUsZAl— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 3, 2026
𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞-𝗧𝗢-𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗦! 🇮🇳🏆🥇Harmanpreet Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian captain to lead the Men's Hockey Team to two Asian Games gold medals, and… pic.twitter.com/bTIHUUsZAl
The match was as good as over. Another PC in the 57th minute saw India finally decide to experiment — and used a three-man routine. Hardik to push, Manpreet to stop and Harmanpreet to flick. It worked, 5-1.
That final goal also, in its own way, encapsulated India’s entire campaign — things falling into place, going the team’s way even when they weren’t expected to.
It wasn’t a flawless tournament for the men but it did highlight the gulf in Asian hockey, even an Indian team at less than optimum being miles ahead of the rest. This is the first time both Indian teams have been crowned Games champions simultaneously and also the first time the Indian men have managed to defend their title.
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗛! 🇮🇳🥇🏆India's most-capped player has made history, becoming the only Indian hockey player to win three Asian Games gold medals! 🔥A historic achievement for an Indian hockey legend. 👏🇮🇳… pic.twitter.com/4083D8VI1V— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 3, 2026
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗛! 🇮🇳🥇🏆India's most-capped player has made history, becoming the only Indian hockey player to win three Asian Games gold medals! 🔥A historic achievement for an Indian hockey legend. 👏🇮🇳… pic.twitter.com/4083D8VI1V
Hockey’s place in India’s medal haul has always been special. It was only appropriate, then, that the men not only won the contingent’s final medal but also helped India leapfrog into fourth position on the medal table by virtue of its 21st and last gold.
Pakistan, meanwhile, got back among the medals for the first time since 2014, defeating Korea 5-3 in the bronze medal playoff.
The result: Final: India 5 (Harmapreet Singh 11pc, 57pc, Jugraj Singh 23pc, Hardik Singh 42ps, Shilanand Lakra 54) bt Malaysia 1 (Shello Silverius 14).
Third place: Pakistan 5 (Rana Waheed Ashraf 52, 54pc, Sufyan Khan 4pc, Abdul Rehman 30pc, Hannan Shahid 59) bt Korea 3 (Lee Gangsan 12, Kim Yong Bok 18, Yang Jihun 25).
