India’s hockey team has done it again! They clinched their fourth Men’s Hockey Asia Cup title with a thrilling 4-1 win over South Korea in the final held in Rajgir, Bihar, on Sunday. This victory ends an eight-year wait for a continental crown and books their spot in next year’s FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Indian stars shone bright in the match. Sukhjeet Singh opened the scoring, while Dilpreet Singh fired in two quick goals for a brace. Amit Rohidas added another to seal the deal. South Korea’s Son Dain pulled one back in the final quarter, but it couldn’t stop India’s rampage. Jugraj Singh came close with a penalty stroke, but the keeper saved it.
This win tops off an unbeatable run for India in the tournament. They stormed into the final after smashing China 7-0 in the Super 4s stage. That game highlighted their firepower—Abhishek netted a brace, and Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, and Sukhjeet Singh all scored once.
Under captain Harmanpreet Singh, India stayed undefeated with five wins and one draw. They dominated the pool stage with three straight victories. In the Super 4s, they crushed Malaysia 4-1 and China 7-0, then drew 2-2 with South Korea.
This is India’s fourth Asia Cup trophy, following wins in 2003, 2007, and 2017. South Korea leads the pack with five titles from 1994, 1999, 2009, 2013, and 2022.
Now, with qualification secured for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup from August 14 to 30, India eyes a strong podium finish. Since their last World Cup title in 1975, they’ve hit fifth place twice—in 1982 and 1994. The team has played in every one of the 15 editions, including the latest in 2023 at Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
Hockey fans in India are buzzing—what a proud moment for the sport!
