Indian Men's Hockey Team Advances to Asian Games Final After Thrilling Victory Over Pakistan

The Indian men's hockey team has advanced to the finals of the 2026 Asian Games after a thrilling 4-3 victory against Pakistan in the semi-finals. With a strong start and a dramatic finish, the team is now focused on securing the gold medal. Players like Sukhjeet Singh and Mandeep Singh expressed their confidence and readiness for the final, emphasizing teamwork and strategy. As they prepare to face Malaysia, the team aims to make history by winning back-to-back gold medals. Read on to discover more about their journey and aspirations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 1, 2026, 23:35 IST

Victory Secured in Semi-Final Showdown

The Indian men's hockey team is brimming with confidence as they prepare for the final at the 2026 Asian Games, following a nail-biting 4-3 victory against their long-time rivals, Pakistan, in the semi-finals on Thursday.

During the semi-final match, India surged ahead with a 3-0 lead, thanks to two penalty corner goals from Harmanpreet Singh and a field goal from Sukhjeet Singh. However, Pakistan made a strong comeback, with goals from Abu Baker, Hannan Shahid, and Waheed Rana, leveling the score at 3-3. In a dramatic finish, India clinched the match with just 50 seconds left when Abhishek's shot deflected off a Pakistani stick and found the net, propelling the defending champions into the final. In the other semi-final, Malaysia triumphed over South Korea, setting the stage for a showdown with India.

Players Set Their Sights on Gold

After the intense match, forward Sukhjeet Singh expressed the team's commitment to their strategy and teamwork, emphasizing their readiness to compete for the gold medal. He stated, "We're feeling really good right now, especially since we had a semifinal against Pakistan. We just stuck to our strategy, focus, and basics. We trusted each other that whatever chance we got in the D, we'd either get PCs or hit goals on the field. We're fully prepared for gold. We're completely ready as a team right now for gold."

Mandeep Singh reflected on the memorable victory, praising the team's resilience and strong finish. He noted, "Absolutely, this is a day we'll remember because it was a great match. Pakistan put up a good fight too, and we ended on a strong note. We believed in our team, and we scored right up until the final whistle. Abhishek scored a great goal, and we've finally made it to the finals. This will be remembered by everyone." He also acknowledged the challenges faced during the match but remained optimistic about their focus for the final.

Defender Jarmanpreet Singh shared his excitement about reaching the final, highlighting the importance of this tournament for Olympic qualification. He remarked, "It's a great feeling because winning this match was very important for us, and we have reached the finals by winning the match; this is the biggest thing. This event is quite important for us to qualify for the Olympics, and if we win a medal tomorrow, it will be history that we have won two gold medals back-to-back, and it will be the first time this happens."

Sanjay added that the match was challenging but emphasized the importance of perseverance, stating, "Today's match was quite tough, and yes, we fought back and came back to win the match 4-3. This was very important. Sometimes it happens in the same final that the score becomes three-three and then there is a three-two score, but the important thing is that you don't give up on the match and keep fighting till the last minute."