India's Hockey Team Dominates Bangladesh with 10-0 Victory at Asian Games 2026
India's Impressive Win in Pool A
Kakamigahara [Japan], September 28: The Indian men's hockey team wrapped up their Pool A matches at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 with a remarkable fifth consecutive victory, defeating Bangladesh 10-0 despite challenging weather conditions. This win solidified their position as the top team in Pool A, as reported by Hockey India.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh showcased his skills with a hat-trick, while Shilanand Lakra contributed with two goals. With this performance, India is set to face their long-time rivals Pakistan in the semi-finals on October 1. The other semi-final will feature Malaysia against South Korea.
India's dominance in Pool A was evident as they secured victories against Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, and Bangladesh, finishing with an impressive goal difference of +45. The team will enjoy a two-day break before the crucial semi-final match.
The heavy rain made the pitch slippery and challenging for players, delaying the match start by 30 minutes due to a prior game between Pakistan and Oman being interrupted. However, the Indian team, known for their fitness, adapted well to the wet conditions.
India quickly asserted their dominance, scoring in the 3rd minute. Sanjay, despite being at a tight angle, assisted Abhishek, who executed a reverse hit that found the net, giving India an early 1-0 lead.
Although India struggled to extend their lead in the first quarter, they maintained pressure. Bangladesh earned a penalty corner in the 12th minute, but goalkeeper Suraj Karkera was quick to deny them. A potential penalty corner for India was overturned after a video referral by Bangladesh.
Abhishek faced a brief injury scare but returned to the game shortly after. As the rain intensified, the pitch became increasingly waterlogged. In the 22nd minute, India was awarded a penalty stroke after Jugraj Singh's drag-flick hit a defender's foot, which he converted to make it 2-0.
Despite the challenging conditions, India continued to press forward. Mandeep Singh earned another penalty corner in the 27th minute, which Harmanpreet converted, extending the lead to 3-0 by halftime.
After the break, in the 32nd minute, Dilpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh executed a brilliant play, allowing Sukhjeet to score India's fourth goal effortlessly.
Sukhjeet nearly scored again in the 37th minute, but the Bangladesh defense held firm. A minute later, Harmanpreet's flick from a penalty corner just missed the post.
India found their fifth goal in the 40th minute, with Harmanpreet scoring again from a penalty corner created by Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Shilanand then took the spotlight, netting two goals in quick succession in the 44th and 45th minutes, bringing the score to 7-0. Harmanpreet completed his hat-trick shortly after, ending the third quarter with India leading 8-0.
The final quarter saw even heavier rain, complicating play for both teams. Despite this, India managed to score two more goals. In the penultimate minute, Sanjay's precise drag-flick from a penalty corner found the net.
As the match neared its end, Mandeep capitalized on a defensive error to score the final goal, sealing the match at 10-0. With this commanding victory, India heads into the semi-finals against Pakistan with strong momentum.