Asian Games 2026: India record best-ever 8-2 win over South Korea in men's hockey
India beat South Korea 8-2 in men's hockey at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, producing their biggest margin of victory over that opponent in the history of the Games. The win was India’s third straight in Pool A and moved the defending champions closer to securing a semi-final berth.
The result continued a strong start to India’s campaign in Hangzhou, with Dilpreet Singh scoring twice to take his tournament total to nine goals, the highest in the men’s competition. Abhishek also scored two, while Harmanpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Sukhjeet Singh and Shilanand Lakra contributed one goal each.
Both sides began the match with high intensity and clear tactical direction from the benches, and the contest opened in hot conditions that cooled into a breeze by the second quarter. India capitalised on early pressure when Shilanand Lakra converted in the fourth minute after an aerial into the Korean circle was collected and set up for him. South Korea’s goalkeeper Jaehan Kim made saves in the eighth and ninth minutes to keep his side in the game temporarily.
India extended their lead in quick succession early in the match: Sukhjeet Singh finished in the 10th minute and captain Harmanpreet Singh scored from a penalty corner in the 11th. In the 15th minute a Manpreet aerial reached Lakra, who laid the ball off for Abhishek to finish, sending India into the first break 4-0 ahead.
The visitors maintained forward momentum in the second quarter as Lakra threatened again and India probed repeatedly for openings. The fifth goal arrived in the 26th minute when Abhishek fed Mandeep inside the circle and Dilpreet got the decisive touch on Mandeep’s reverse push to make it 5-0 at half-time.
India increased the margin early in the third quarter with Dilpreet’s second of the match in the 32nd minute after a pass from Hardik found him for a reverse-hit finish. The side earned a string of penalty corners while Amit Rohidas produced a key defensive intervention to repel a Korean attack following South Korea’s first penalty corner of the match. India made it 7-0 in the 38th minute when Abhishek completed a move after Raj Kumar’s effort struck the crossbar.
South Korea broke through in the 42nd minute when JaeHo Kim pulled one back to make it 7-1 at the end of the third quarter. The visitors reduced the deficit to 7-2 in the 52nd minute when Yong Bok Kim capitalised on a loose defensive challenge from Jarmanpreet Singh to score a field goal, but India’s defence and goalkeeper Mohith largely contained further threats. Rajinder sealed the final margin with a fierce flick into the backboard with 38 seconds remaining to complete the 8-2 victory.
India’s playmaker Vivek Sagar Prasad was felicitated ahead of the match after completing 200 senior international appearances for the country. India will next face hosts Japan on September 26.