India defended their Asian Games men’s hockey title with a commanding 5-1 win over Malaysia in the final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Saturday.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice from penalty corners. Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner in the 23rd minute, Hardik Singh scored from a penalty stroke, and Shilanand Lakra finished from open play in the 54th minute. Malaysia’s only reply came from Shello Silverius, who levelled the score at 1-1 early.

Head coach Craig Fulton praised the team’s approach after the match. He said the target for the year was to defend the title and that the team played a strong brand of hockey throughout the campaign.

This is India’s fifth Asian Games hockey gold and the first time the men have defended the title, after earlier triumphs in 1966, 1998, 2014 and 2022.

The win also sealed direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. With the women’s team also winning gold, India recorded its first double hockey gold at the Asian Games.