India vs Malaysia Hockey Highlights, Asian Games Final: History made; India win 5-1, defend gold medal for LA spot

They win 5-1. Historic day. Back-to-back gold medals for the Indian men's hockey team at the Asian Games. The entire hockey campaign was good for the nation. Yesterday, the women's team also won the gold medal after 44 years after beating China. Harmanpreet's men showed a massive defensive improvement on their game against Pakistan. Congrats to Team India

And Harmanpreet scores. Straight through. India lead 5-1 now. One-sided contest. Second goal for Harmanpreet. Surely it's India's gold now. Akhimullah tries to score at the other end but it stays 5-1 in favour of the Indians.

Shilanand Lakra it is. Pass from the right and he has a simple job at the far post. India lead 4-1 now. Less than five minutes to go. India are on the verge of history.

It's Vivek the earner. Second battery and off the foot and a retake. Another retake. Variation. One more retake. Referral. Turned down. Retake. Retake. Attempt at variation but unfruitful. Finally the series of retakes comes to an end.

Now Indians are a bit defensive. Which is okay. Anyway, f India men win gold, it will be the first time that both Indian teams will return with gold medals. It will also be the first time that the Indian men's team will defend its gold for the first time at the Asian Games.

India much better in all important parameters. More possession, more PCs and more circle penetrations. The final quarter gets underway.

Indians are so much better today. Against Pakistan they were all over the place for a very long time. They were a bit lucky to beat their arch-rivals. Anyway, the third quarter ends. India leading 3-1.

Harman goes left, wide of the target. Retake now. Referral by Malaysia upheld. Shortly after another PC for India. Penalty stroke given. Another referral. It says. Hardik steps up! GOAL! Goes left of the goalkeeper. He has no chance. India are now leading 3-1. They will now feel a little better.

What a player! Can India make it 3-1? No they don't. Jugraj goes over the top. So much force but no direction. Shortly after Dilpreet goes wide of the far post. Lakra was around but a bit far

From the right flank. There might be some temptation to get a bit defensive but India should remember how that almost cost them the semifinal against Pakistan. They must play their natural game and look to score more goals.

Harmanpreet is one win away from becoming the first India captain to lead the men’s team to two Asian Games gold medals. Seasoned midfielder Manpreet Singh, India's most capped player, could stand as the only Indian to win three Asian Games gold medals, after 2014 and 2023.

There have been quite a few so far. Just get tackled at the end of it. Anyway, it's half-time. India leading 2-1. Harmanpreet and Jugraj on target for the defending gold medallists. Shello Silverius scored for the Malaysians. Take a little breather and come back.

India chief coach Craig Fulton and Malaysia head coach Brendon Carolan know each other very well. Both represented South Africa as players during the late 1990s and 2000s, building a close friendship and shared tactical foundation. When Craig Fulton was appointed head coach of the Irish men's team in 2014, he brought in Carolan as his assistant coach and tactical analyst.

Shilanand Lakra earns it. Jugraj Singh it is. Fantastic shot. India lead 2-1. So much power into that Jugraj hit. Harmanpreet Singh wasn't missed. Seventh goal for Jugraj in the 2026 Asian Games.

They have really upped the ante! Akhimullah just a threw a big scare into the Indian team with his run into the circle and control. Shortly after there is a PC for India after a defensive blunder from a Malaysian player. But luckily for them, the Malaysians, nothing comes of the PC.

It's not going to be an easy game, rest assured. And the Malaysians earn a penalty corner. Lovely variation but a good save by Mohit. It's being reviewed. Malaysian appeal spot on. It hit the foot of an Indian player. PC and retake but nothing come of them.

It's 1-1 after 15 minutes. Breathtaking. The Malaysians took the Indians aback. They had no real attack to speak of prior to the goal. Very high quality goal from Shello Silverius.

What a champion player! There are very few matches when he is offcolour. Wait, that's not important now. Malaysia get the equaliser. Shello Silverius taps the looping ball down and hits it straight away, right into the goal.

No PC for India in the first quarter. No circle penetration for the Malaysians. Here is first PC for India. Can you believe it? Just as we wrote that! Nothing comes of it. Retake now. Harmanpreet gets the goal. Fierce drag-flick. India are ahead now. What a goal!

Vivek Sagar Prasad goes for goal from the left. Reverse hit, not on target. In hindsight, he rushed it. Could have waited another second before unleashing it. Shortly after another circle penetration but the Malaysian defence is equal to the task.

Bring your coffee or tea, it's going to be a fun game. You will need some stimulant. Let's see which side starts well. First four minutes, it's been quiet. Which is understandable, the game has just started. One needs some time to settle down.

India first. Indians look determined, singing the anthem. A couple of them out of tune though. Malaysia now. What an atmosphere. Emotionally charged-up!

Recent history heavily favours India, who have won seven and drawn two of their last nine matches against Malaysia. Their most recent clash, a pulsating 4-3 Indian victory in the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy final in Chennai, serves as a blueprint for the intensity expected. Malaysia's last victory over India came in a heartbreaking shootout in the semi-finals of the 2018 Asian Games, proving they know how to deliver at this stage.

They have beaten South Korea 5-3. This is their first medal since 2014. It was a silver back then.

It's 3:40 pm now. A 10-minute delay. Apparently, the Indian team arrived late to the venue. Why? They were stuck in the traffic. The women's team's gold medal match which happened yesterday was also delayed, by more than one hour. Because of a highway accident involving other vehicles.