Hangzhou: India enjoyed a golden run at the Asian Games over the past two days, winning 11 gold medals across hockey, cricket and other events. India now has 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals, placing it fourth in the medal standings.
Uzbekistan also has 21 gold medals but remains behind India with 70 total medals. India has so far won 85 medals, compared with 106 at the previous Asian Games.
The Indian men’s hockey team successfully defended its Asian Games title, defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice, in the 11th and 57th minutes, while Jugraj Singh, Hardik Singh and Shilanand Lakra also found the net.
Malaysia’s only goal came from Shalo Silvarius in the 14th minute.
With his two goals, Harmanpreet took his tournament tally to 12 and finished as the competition’s leading scorer. He also became the first Indian captain to win gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games.
The victory also secured India’s qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It came a day after the Indian women’s hockey team defeated China 1-0 to win gold and qualify for the Olympics after 44 years. It is the first time that India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams have both won gold at the same Asian Games.
India earned 14 penalty corners during the final, compared with two for Malaysia. The victory made India the second country after Pakistan to win consecutive Asian Games hockey gold medals. Veteran Manpreet Singh, India’s most-capped player, also secured his third Asian Games gold medal.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated the men’s hockey team and said the presence of eight players from Punjab, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, made the victory particularly special for the state. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the medal winners.
