India’s men’s hockey team entered the Asian Games with a clear objective after a disappointing World Cup campaign, and captain Harmanpreet Singh made sure there was no confusion about what the team wanted.

The skipper revealed that winning gold and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics were the two targets India had set before the tournament.

Harmanpreet led from the front in the final, scoring twice as India defeated Malaysia 5-1 on Saturday to retain their Asian Games men’s hockey title. The victory secured India’s fifth gold in the competition and, more importantly, a direct ticket to the LA 2028 Olympics.

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‘The Target Was Clear’

India had already overcome Pakistan in a dramatic 4-3 semifinal before facing Malaysia in the gold-medal clash. With some players appearing in their first Asian Games and others bringing multiple editions of experience, Harmanpreet felt the squad understood the importance of the occasion.

“The final match was a big opportunity for everybody. There are some players who are representing (India) for the first time in Asian Games, and some guys representing four times, three times, two times,” Harmanpreet said.

“We knew we are here for the gold and to qualify for the Olympics. The target was clear,” he added.

The Indian captain then produced another big performance when it mattered most.

He opened the scoring through a penalty corner in the 11th minute before returning in the final quarter to score India’s fifth goal in the 57th minute, completing his brace. Jugraj Singh, Hardik Singh and Shilanand Lakra were the other scorers.

World Cup Disappointment Turned Into Motivation

India’s Asian Games campaign came just weeks after a disappointing ninth-place finish at the World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. Harmanpreet admitted the year had been demanding, but insisted the team retained belief in its ability to perform in Asia.

“The whole year was actually very, very tough for us because we had so many tournaments. The World Cup wasn't that good for us, but we know that we always dominate in Asia. We are here to defend the title,” he said.

The result also made Harmanpreet the first Indian captain to lead the men's hockey team to back-to-back Asian Games gold medals. India successfully defended the title for the first time and also became the first edition in which the country's men's and women's teams both won hockey gold.

‘You Just Need To Finish It With The Goal’

Harmanpreet's two penalty-corner goals once again underlined his importance to India's set-piece attack. However, the captain preferred to focus on responsibility rather than personal achievement.

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“That’s a responsibility. When you get the opportunity you just need to finish it with the goal. And that is in my mind during the match,” he said.

Reflecting on the team's overall performance, Harmanpreet was particularly pleased with India's defensive display.

“Overall we played well. We got so many opportunities. Especially defence-wise. We played very well that's why we got the result,” he added.