India’s men and women both reach Asian Games hockey finals for first time since 1998

Both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams reached the gold-medal matches at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on Thursday, with the men defending their title and the women seeking their first Olympic-style Asian Games gold since 1982.

The women’s side last won the Asian Games tournament in 1982 at New Delhi, defeating Pakistan in the final, and have since finished runners-up in 1998 and 2018. The Indian men are the reigning Asian Games champions after winning Hangzhou 2022 by beating Japan in the final. The achievement of both teams reaching finals at Aichi-Nagoya replicates a feat India last achieved at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, 28 years earlier.

India advanced to the men’s final with a 4-3 victory over Pakistan in the semi-final. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the first quarter and Sukhjeet added a third to put India three goals ahead; Pakistan reduced the deficit in the second half through Abu Mohammad, Hannan Shahid and Waheed Rana before Abhishek struck in the final minute, the finish coming after a deflection off Sufyan Khan, to secure India’s place in the gold-medal match.

The women beat South Korea 2-0 in their semi-final to reach the final. South Korea goalkeeper Lee Seoyeon kept India at bay in the first half, but Ishika Chaudhary and Salima Tete scored within a four-minute spell early in the second half to settle the contest.

At the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, when India last had both teams in their respective finals, the men topped their pool with four wins, beat Japan in the semi-finals and then defeated South Korea in the final via a penalty shootout; the women faced South Korea in the final and lost 2-1.

With both teams through to the gold-medal matches at Aichi-Nagoya, India has replicated a continental milestone last seen in 1998; the men will attempt to retain the Hangzhou 2022 title while the women have the opportunity to end a 44-year wait for an Asian Games gold.

Both Indian teams will now contest their respective gold-medal matches at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.