India Wins Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025
India secured their fourth Men’s Hockey Asia Cup title with a dominant 4-1 victory over Korea in the final held at Rajgir, Bihar. This triumph also confirmed India’s qualification for the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, and Amit Rohidas were the scorers for India, with Dilpreet netting twice. Korea’s Son Dain managed a late consolation goal in the final quarter. Jugraj Singh came close to adding another for India but his penalty stroke was saved.
This win marked India’s first Asia Cup title in eight years, showcasing a strong resurgence under coach Craig Fulton.
India reached the final on the back of a resounding 7-0 win against China in the Super 4s. Abhishek struck twice, while Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, and Sukhjeet Singh also found the net.
The team dominated from the start—Lakra opened scoring in the fourth minute from an aerial ball via Harmanpreet Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh. Dilpreet doubled the lead three minutes later, capitalizing on a rebound from a penalty corner.
Mandeep Singh added another in the 18th minute, finishing off a move involving Harmanpreet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad. By the third quarter, Raj Kumar Pal and Sukhjeet Singh extended the margin to 5-0. Abhishek’s brace in the final quarter sealed the emphatic win.
Coach Craig Fulton praised his squad’s consistency “I thought it was a great performance against China. We started well and set the tone for the game. I am really happy, but in high-performance sport, you have to recreate it every time. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Captain Harmanpreet Singh acknowledged the team’s improvement “We will make sure not to repeat past mistakes. The crowd stood with us even in the rain, and that motivated us. In a final, mindset from the first minute is everything.”
Vice-captain Hardik Singh underlined the team-first spirit “Our forwards had a meeting, and we executed well. Even if Harmanpreet doesn’t score, it is our duty to do so. The focus is on execution as a unit, not individuals. The job isn’t finished yet.”
Forward Abhishek Nain highlighted the defensive strength “We got a clean sheet, and the defence distributed passes well—that’s why we dominated.”
Coach Fulton also noted that striker Mandeep Singh rolled his ankle during the game, with an update awaited.
India’s Dominance Reaffirmed
With this commanding win, India reaffirmed its position as a continental hockey powerhouse, ending an eight-year wait for the Asia Cup crown and carrying momentum into next year’s World Cup.
