India Win Asia Cup Hockey After 8 Years, Seal Berth In World Cup In 2026
Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
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By Slogger
First publised on 2025-09-08 06:54:02
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Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.
View all posts by this Author
After eight long years of waiting, Indian hockey fans finally had something to celebrate again. The Men in Blue demolished defending champions South Korea 4-1 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium on Sunday, capturing their fourth Asia Cup title in style and booking their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the process.
One could sense India were raring to go from the very first whistle. Sukhjeet Singh needed just 60 seconds to find the back of the net, leaving the Korean defence scrambling and sending the home crowd into raptures. It was the perfect start to what would become a perfect afternoon for Indian hockey.
Dilpreet Singh emerged as the star of the show, bagging a brilliant brace that effectively put the game to bed. His first came from a clinical penalty corner conversion in the 28th minute, followed by another strike just after the break that had fans believing this was India's day.
Veteran defender Amit Rohidas put the icing on the cake with a thunderous penalty corner in the 50th minute, sending the stadium into delirium. Even Son Dain's late consolation goal for Korea couldn't dampen the celebrations â the damage was already done.
Craig Fulton's tactical masterclass was evident throughout. The New Zealand-born coach had clearly done his homework, with India's high-pressing game and lightning-quick transitions catching Korea off guard repeatedly. In midfield, the experienced trio of Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad dictated the tempo like seasoned conductors, while captain Harmanpreet Singh marshaled a defence that stood firm against numerous Korean attacks.
Between the posts, PR Sreejesh rolled back the years with some vintage saves when it mattered most. The veteran goalkeeper's experience showed as he commanded his area with authority, snuffing out Korea's few genuine scoring opportunities.
It was a joy to watch India click as a team, backed by brilliant individual performances.
The final whistle brought scenes of pure joy. Players collapsed in exhaustion and elation, while the passionate Bihar crowd erupted in celebration. It didn't take long for the congratulations to pour in, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the first to praise the team's "magnificent achievement" that had made "every Indian proud."
Hockey India wasted no time announcing substantial cash rewards for the squad and support staff â a fitting recognition for ending the country's Asia Cup drought.
For Indian hockey, this victory represents more than just another trophy. It's a statement of intent as the team sets its sights on bigger prizes ahead. With World Cup qualification sealed and confidence soaring, this blend of battle-hardened veterans and hungry young talents looks capable of competing with anyone. Yet, the real test will be against teams from Europe and Australia and New Zealand
