Asian Games 2023: India’s men’s hockey team defeated Japan in the final to earn gold for the fourth time in the country’s history. India has also clinched a direct entrance to the 2016 Olympics in Paris.
India has won the Asian men’s hockey championship for the third time in a row. After earning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, India ensured that the trend continued with a spectacular performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Harmanpreet Singh’s men won the gold medal in men’s hockey after defeating 2018 champions Japan 5-1 in the final on Friday, October 6.
More crucially, India has secured a spot in next year’s Olympics in Paris, avoiding the longer journey to the Games. Only gold medal winners in men’s and women’s hockey at the Asian Games are guaranteed Olympic berths, and the Indian team ensured that they did so with a dominant performance that new coach Craig Fulton will be proud of.
Highlights of the Indian Men’s Hockey Final between India and Japan
It was also India’s fourth gold medal in men’s hockey at the Asian Games, following 1966, 1998, and 2014. India won bronze at the Jakarta Asian Games four years ago.
India has tied South Korea’s score of four gold medals to become the Asian Games’ joint second-most successful men’s hockey squad. With nine gold medals, Pakistan is the most successful men’s team in Asian Games history.
India men’s hockey team wins Gold, secures Paris Olympics quota after hammering Japan
The Indian men’s hockey team defeated Japan 8-0 in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday to win the gold medal and secure a quota place at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
India dominated the match from start to finish, scoring four goals in the first half and four more in the second. Harmanpreet Singh (2 goals, 1 assist), Akashdeep Singh (2 goals, 1 assist), Lalit Upadhyay (1 goal, 1 assist), and Sukhjeet Singh (1 goal, 1 assist) were the star performers for India.
The victory marks India’s fourth Asia Cup title, and their first since 2007. It is also a major boost for the team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Highlights of the match:
- India scored four goals in the first half, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring two of them.
- Japan failed to register a single shot on goal in the first half.
- India continued their dominance in the second half, scoring four more goals.
- Akashdeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, and Sukhjeet Singh all scored one goal each in the second half.
- Harmanpreet Singh was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Reactions from the Indian team:
- Harmanpreet Singh: “We are very happy to have won the gold medal and secured a quota place for the Paris Olympics. It is a great achievement for the team. We played really well today and we are very proud of our performance.”
- Akashdeep Singh: “We are very excited to have won the Asia Cup. It is a great feeling to be back on top. We have worked really hard for this and we are very happy with our achievement.”
- Lalit Upadhyay: “It is a great feeling to have won the gold medal and secured a quota place for the Paris Olympics. We played really well today and we are very proud of our performance.”
- Sukhjeet Singh: “I am very happy to have scored a goal in the final and helped the team win the gold medal. It is a great achievement for me and I am very proud of myself.”
GOLD🥇MEDAL FOR INDIA🇮🇳
Team India wins GOLD🥇in Men’s Hockey as they beat Japan 5-1 in Hangzhou #AsianGames2022 | #Hockey | #IndiaAtAG22 | #AsianGames | #IndiaAtAsianGames | #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/HLOJ6Y2aT9
— Information & PR, J&K (@diprjk) October 6, 2023
Conclusion:
The Indian men’s hockey team’s victory at the Asia Cup 2023 is a major achievement for the team. It shows that they are on the right track ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team will now be looking to build on this success and challenge for a medal at the Olympics.
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