India retain men's Asiad hockey gold, seal LA berth

India's men's hockey team successfully defended their Asian Games gold medal on Saturday, defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final to claim back-to-back titles and secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The victory marked the first time India had successfully defended their men's hockey Asian Games title and extended their record as eight-time Olympic champions.

Malaysia finished in second place, while Pakistan claimed bronze after defeating South Korea 5-3 earlier in the day. India controlled the game from the start, with captain Harmanpreet Singh opening the scoring with a penalty corner in the 11th minute. They extended their lead in the second half, with Hardik Singh, Shilanand Lakra, and Harmanpreet contributing goals to seal a comprehensive 5-1 victory.