Asian Games: India Survive Pakistan Fightback to Reach Men’s Hockey Final

The defending champions had appeared to be in complete control after building a 3-0 advantage, but Pakistan fought back with three unanswered goals to level the contest before Abhishek’s late intervention sent India into the gold-medal match.

The victory guarantees India another Asian Games hockey medal and leaves the team one win away from securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the Asian Games gold medal carrying the Olympic berth.

India also reached a significant milestone as both the men's and women's hockey teams advanced to their respective finals at the same edition of the Asian Games for the first time since 1998.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh set the tone early, converting penalty corners in the fifth and 13th minutes to put India 2-0 ahead.

India continued to dominate possession and territory, and Sukhjeet Singh extended the lead in the 23rd minute. The move began with Manpreet Singh winning possession before Shilanand Lakra progressed down the left and delivered the ball across the face of goal for Sukhjeet to finish.

Pakistan finally reduced the deficit in the 30th minute when Abu Mahmood converted a penalty corner, sending the teams into the interval with India leading 3-1.

The momentum shifted further after the restart. Hannan Shahid scored in the 45th minute after Pakistan created danger from the right, bringing the score to 3-2.

Pakistan then completed an extraordinary comeback early in the final quarter. Rana Waheed found the net three minutes into the period to make it 3-3 and put India under significant pressure.

With the match seemingly heading towards a shootout, Abhishek produced the decisive moment in the closing stages. He found room on the right side of the circle and got a decisive deflection on his effort, sending the ball past Pakistan goalkeeper Muneeb-ur-Rehman Raza.

Pakistan could not find another equaliser before the final hooter, allowing India to secure a place in the final. The result also extended India's unbeaten run against Pakistan to 21 matches.

India will now face the winner of the second semifinal between South Korea and Malaysia in the gold-medal match.

The result follows India's women's hockey team reaching the final after defeating South Korea 2-0. The women will meet defending champions China in the title clash.

India last had both its men's and women's hockey teams in the Asian Games final in 1998. The men's team won gold that year after defeating South Korea on penalties, while the women's side finished with silver.

No previous edition has seen India win Asian Games gold in both men's and women's hockey. The 2026 tournament therefore gives both teams an opportunity to achieve that feat while also pursuing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.