India’s men’s hockey team created history on Saturday by winning the gold medal at the Asian Games after defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final. The victory gave India its second consecutive Asian Games gold in men’s hockey, a feat the country had never achieved before.
The win also secured India direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. India had entered the final looking to defend the gold medal it had previously won at the 2023 Asian Games.
The historic victory led to celebrations at the home of hockey player Mandeep Singh. Family members and supporters gathered at his residence, where sweets were distributed and congratulations were exchanged following India’s win.
Mandeep’s father said his son had expressed confidence before the final that he would return with a gold medal. His expectation came true as India completed a convincing victory over Malaysia to retain the Asian Games title.
The final also produced individual milestones for several Indian players.
India captain Harmanpreet Singh became the first Indian captain to win gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games. His contribution came through penalty corners, with Harmanpreet among the Indian players who scored in the final.
Jugraj Singh also scored for India through a penalty corner as the Indian team built a five-goal tally against Malaysia.
Manpreet Singh created another record by becoming the only Indian player to win Asian Games gold medals at three editions. He had previously been part of India’s gold-medal-winning teams in 2014 and 2023.
The victory marked India’s fifth men’s hockey gold medal at the Asian Games. India had previously won the men’s hockey title in 1966, 1988, 2014 and 2023.
The latest triumph also came as part of a significant achievement for Indian hockey at the Games. For the first time, both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold medals at the same Asian Games.
The Indian women’s team won its second Asian Games gold, adding to its previous title. With both teams finishing at the top of their respective hockey competitions, India completed a gold-medal double in the sport.
For the men’s team, however, the 5-1 victory over Malaysia carried additional significance. It not only retained the Asian Games title but also established India’s first run of consecutive men’s hockey gold medals at the continental event.
The result has also confirmed India’s place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, giving the team an early qualification route through its Asian Games victory.