Kakamigahara, October 3 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian hockey team made history on Saturday by defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026, held at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara. Head coach Craig Fulton expressed immense pride in his team, stating they achieved their primary goal for the year.
With this victory, India has secured direct qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games. Following the match, Fulton remarked, “Our aim was to come here and defend our title, and we did just that. We played exceptional hockey and scored multiple goals. We are a strong team, committed to our game plan. It was also significant that we have been away from home for a long time, and our families… you play for your loved ones, and the whole of India was watching us, hoping we would win the gold medal.”
Fulton noted that the way India played in the final was markedly different from their tense semifinal against Pakistan. In that match, India had a three-goal lead but narrowly won 4-3 thanks to a late goal from Abhishek.
Reflecting on the final, Fulton said, “After experiencing the pressure from the semifinal, this match felt entirely different. It required more patience; we created many opportunities, and the third quarter was outstanding. We stepped onto the field and showed the difference. We played very well.”
Recalling the semifinal against Pakistan, Fulton acknowledged that after a strong start, India allowed the opposing team to come back into the game. He explained, “We played the game in two halves. We played the first half; they played the second. They are a team that can capitalize on any mistakes if you are not careful. They did that and took advantage of our errors. We just needed to correct our mistakes tonight and ensure we didn’t give them any free chances, and we did that. I am proud that we won.”
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