India's hockey gold at Asiad clinches 2028 Olympics berth

India's men's hockey team claimed their second consecutive Asian Games gold medal with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia in the summit clash at the 2026 Asiad, securing a berth at the 2028 Olympics in the process.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice as India overwhelmed their opponents in the final. Head coach Craig Fulton attributed the team's strong display to the psychological boost of their hard-fought semifinal win over arch-rival Pakistan.

"We played a great game. We almost needed that semifinal to get into this mindset," Fulton said after the victory. While Malaysia presented a stern challenge in the opening half with moments of quality play, India adapted effectively after the interval.

The Indian team faced an early test when Malaysia scored a well-taken goal to make it 2-1, keeping the contest competitive. However, India's performance in the third quarter proved decisive, allowing them to take control and ultimately seal a comprehensive win.

Fulton praised his squad's resilience in response to Malaysia's attacking play. "I'm proud of the boys. On the first half's performance from Malaysia, they did really well. We stuck to our guns, but they scored a world-class goal," the coach noted. The emphatic final victory underscores India's status as the region's dominant hockey force.