India moves closer to Hockey Semi-finals with third straight Asian Games win
Sukhminder Bhangoo
Aichi-Nagoya (Japan), September 26, 2026: The Indian men’s hockey team continued its title defence at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, securing three consecutive wins in Pool A and moving closer to a place in the semi-finals.
India opened its campaign with a 13-1 victory over Indonesia, followed by a commanding 16-1 win against Sri Lanka. The defending champions then defeated South Korea 8-2 on September 24 to maintain their unbeaten run.
The victory over South Korea was India’s third successive win in Pool A and strengthened its position in the race for the knockout stage.
India’s next Pool A match is against hosts Japan on September 26, while the team will face Bangladesh on September 28 in its final pool-stage fixture.
India entered the tournament as the reigning Asian Games men’s hockey champions after winning the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.
The 2026 title also carries added significance, with the men’s hockey champion earning a direct qualification berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
India’s Pool A campaign
- India 13-1 Indonesia
- India 16-1 Sri Lanka
- India 8-2 South Korea
- India vs Japan — September 26
- India vs Bangladesh — September 28
India will look to maintain its unbeaten run against Japan as it seeks to secure its place in the semi-finals.