Defending champions India survived a major scare before Abhishek struck with about 45 seconds remaining to snatch a dramatic 4–3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan and seal a place in the Asian Games men’s hockey final in Kakamigahara on Thursday. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted two penalty corners in the 5th and 13th minutes, Sukhjeet Singh added a field goal in the 23rd, and Abhishek’s late deflection rescued India after a second-half collapse that briefly threatened a shootout.
From 3–0 control to a 3–3 fightback
India looked firmly in charge at 3–0 before Pakistan clawed back through Abu Mahmood (30th), Hannan Shahid (45th) and Waheed Rana (49th). The defending champions struggled to regain midfield control as Pakistan’s forwards poured forward, and the contest appeared headed for a shootout until Abhishek pounced near the goalmouth. His effort took a deflection off defender Sufiyan and beat goalkeeper Ali Raza, sending the Indian bench into celebration after a roller-coaster hour.
India will meet the winner of South Korea versus Malaysia in the gold-medal match. It is the first time since 1998 that both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams will contest Asian Games finals in the same edition — a rare double opportunity that raises the sport’s stakes at home and abroad.
Lessons before the gold-medal match
Coach and captain will want sharper second-half structure after the three-goal cushion evaporated so quickly. Tighter midfield pressing and set-piece rehearsal will matter as much as attacking confidence against familiar Asian rivals who punish loose clearances. Reporting: The Hindu.
Medal-table context
The win keeps India’s hockey gold defence alive on a day when the overall Games tally also climbed through other sports. A calm final performance would turn Thursday’s scare into a footnote rather than a warning.
Today’s News 1 Oct 2026 · 21 stories
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