The Indian men’s hockey team produced a stellar performance to defeat defending champions South Korea 4-1 in the Asia Cup Hockey 2025 final at Rajgir Sports Complex Stadium, Bihar, clinching their fourth continental title and securing a direct berth for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.
Right from the first whistle, India stamped their authority on the match. Sukhjeet Singh opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the first minute, setting the tone for the evening. Dilpreet Singh doubled the lead in the first half, capitalizing on a rebound to make it 2-0. Korea struggled to break through India’s solid defense, and the hosts looked in complete control.
In the second half, India continued to dominate as Dilpreet struck again, completing his brace, before Amit Rohidas added the finishing touch to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory. Korea managed to pull one back through Son Dain late in the fourth quarter, but it was nothing more than a consolation.
This victory was especially sweet for India, who had drawn 2-2 with Korea in the Super 4s stage earlier in the tournament. The team came into the final with momentum after a commanding 7-0 win against China, with contributions from multiple goal-scorers including Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, and Mandeep Singh.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh praised the team’s effort and crowd support, while vice-captain Hardik Singh highlighted the collective execution that led to this triumph. Coach Craig Fulton credited the strong start as the key to setting the tone for the match.
With this win, India not only ended an eight-year wait for the Asia Cup Hockey 2025 title but also reinforced their status as Asia’s top hockey team — a perfect build-up for next year’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.