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Indias Asian Games 2026 gold medal-winning mens hockey team received a grand welcome in New Delhi on Monday.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh said the team performed strongly throughout the tournament and achieved its twin objectives of winning gold and securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "We played very well throughout the entire tournament. We achieved the target of winning the Asian Games 2026 and qualifying for the LA Olympics, Harmanpreet told ANI. Indian field hockey player Mandeep Singh hailed Indias historic back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in mens hockey, saying the team now has sufficient time to prepare and build towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "We created history by winning back-to-back gold medals...We have ample time to prepare for the LA Olympics, Mandeep Singh told ANI. The Indian mens hockey team made history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by successfully defending its continental crown for the first time. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side defeated Malaysia 5-1 in the final to retain the gold medal. The victory also secured Indias direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This was the fifth Gold medal overall for the Indian mens hockey team in the continental sports extravaganza after 1966 Bangkok, 1998 Bangkok, 2014 Incheon and 2022 Hangzhou editions. India edged past arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 by scoring in the dying minutes of the match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, squandering a 3-0 lead. Captain Harmanpreet Singh (5, 13) and Sukhjeet Singh (23) gave India a 3-0 lead, but Abu Mahmood (30), Hannan Shahid (45) and Waheed Rana (49) brought Pakistan back to level terms. It was Abhishek who scored in the final minute of the match to take India into the mens final. (ANI)
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