Harmanpreet Singh and his men face Malaysia in the Asian Games hockey final this Saturday. A win secures a direct ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics. The coach said, “It’s going to be a nice match-up.” India hopes to defend their gold and avoid a difficult path to Olympic qualification.
Gifu [Japan], Oct 01 (ANI): India's Harmanpreet Singh in action during during Hockey semifinal match against Pakistan at Asian Games 2026, in Gifu on Thursday. (ANI Photo)
KAKAMIGAHARA: If the semifinal against Pakistan was a wake-up call, Malaysia might be a reality check. For Harmanpreet Singh and his men, Saturday’s hockey final is not just about defending India’s gold-medal ambitions. A win will bring with it a direct ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics, a prize that makes this more than just another final. India’s men’s hockey is going through a rough phase. Their eighth-place finish at the recent FIH World Cup raised questions about form, fitness and even the relevance of some players in the lineup. The league phase offered only temporary relief, with India dominating weaker opposition. Against Pakistan, however, they were stretched from start to finish. The match demanded a collective effort. Instead, India looked like individuals together on the pitch, particularly the strikers. They surrendered a 3-1 lead before scrambling to a 4-3 win. Malaysia will offer a sterner test. Like India, they have several players in the latter stages of their careers but have shown plenty of spirit and resilience to remain unbeaten and reach the final, their second in three editions. “Malaysia have done well and haven’t had a good tournament so far. It’s going to be a nice match-up. We haven’t played Malaysia for quite some time,” India coach said. After winning bronze at the last two Olympics, India are expected to find their way back to the podium at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The first step is securing qualification, and the direct berth that comes with the Asian Games gold is too valuable to leave to the vagaries of the qualification route.
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India know that route all too well. They have never successfully defended their Asian Games hockey gold, and their failure to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 remains a stark reminder of what can happen when the direct route is missed. For Indian hockey, another such detour would be difficult to contemplate.