India win fourth Asia Cup Hockey title; qualify for 2026 World Cup

Mangalore Today News Network

Bihar, Sep 8, 2025: India won the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup with a 4-1 win over South Korea in the final in Rajgir on Sunday. Dilpreet Singh scored twice for India, while Sukhjeet Singh and Amit Rohidas also got their names onto the scoresheet, as India qualified for the 2026 Men’s Hockey World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Before the match, Craig Fulton had said that he wanted a fast start from his team, to assert themselves on the game. They got just that, and within 30 seconds, they were a goal ahead. Captain Harmanpreet Singh went on a mazy run down the left, and picked out Sukhjeet in the circle, and he blasted a fierce reverse hit into the far top corner from the left side of the D.

India had a few more chances in the first quarter, particularly ones that fell to Dilpreet SIngh and Abhishek, and none more so than a penalty stroke, which Jugraj Singh saw saved by Kim Jaehan in the Korean goal.

In the second quarter, India were less creative, but still absolutely secure at the back, with neither Krishan Pathak in the first quarter nor Suraj Karkera in the second having a save to make. Towards the end of the second quarter, India got the breathing space their play deserved. Once again, it was Harmanpreet who set off the move with a raking aerial pass from left to right to find Sanjay in the circle. He did well to square it Dilpreet around the penalty spot, and he made no mistake with his finish.

Dilpreet added more cushion to India’s lead in the third quarter, and once again, it came from Harmanpreet’s inventive playmaking. He took a free hit quickly to Raj Kumar Pal in the circle, and he then found Dilpreet a couple of yards away from goal, and the deflection in was straightforward for him.

Rohidas added a fourth for India with a rocket of a penalty corner conversion, before Korea pulled back a consolation goal through Son Dain.

After their draw against Korea in their opening game of the Super 4s stage, India scored 15 goals in three games against Malaysia, China and South Korea, to underline their status as the best team in Asia, and now have a trophy to affirm that status.