India thrash Bangladesh 10-0 in Kakamigahara to reach Asian Games hockey semi-finals vs Pakistan
India defeated Bangladesh 10-0 in Kakamigahara on Monday, September 28 to reach the men's hockey semi-finals at the 2026 Asian Games. The result secured India’s place in the last four and set up a semi-final against Pakistan on October 1.
The defending champions finished the Pool A stage with a perfect record, winning all five of their matches and topping the group with a +45 goal difference. Malaysia and South Korea will meet in the other semi-final. India had already guaranteed progression before facing Bangladesh but still recorded a commanding scoreline to complete the pool campaign.
Heavy rain left the pitch at Kakamigahara waterlogged and the match was delayed by 30 minutes, but India adapted better to the conditions. India had secured their semi-final berth prior to the fixture and steadily pulled away from Bangladesh once play began. "Glimpses from the Indian Men’s Team’s 10-0 win over Bangladesh as they wrapped up their Pool A campaign with four wins from four! The focus now shifts to the semi-final against Pakistan on October 1. #HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/g3SzBJK0U4" — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 28, 2026
Scoring began early for India when Abhishek opened the account in the third minute with a reverse-hit created by Sanjay. Jugraj Singh converted a penalty stroke in the 22nd minute to make it 2-0, and Harmanpreet Singh extended the lead with a penalty-corner drag-flick in the 27th minute.
India widened the margin after halftime, with Sukhjeet Singh scoring in the 32nd minute. Harmanpreet struck again in the 40th and 45th minutes to complete a hat-trick, Shilanand Lakra scored twice in the 44th and 45th minutes, and Sanjay and Mandeep Singh added the final goals in the closing two minutes.
India’s five Pool A victories came against Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea and Bangladesh, and the 10-0 result capped a productive group stage in which the team scored freely and conceded very little.
The Asian Games semi-final will be a rematch of India’s meeting with Pakistan at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen on August 19, when India won 5-3. In that World Cup encounter Harmanpreet Singh scored twice, Abhishek struck twice and Hardik Singh added the fifth for India, while Pakistan’s goals came from Hannan Shahid (two) and Sufyan Khan.
India face Pakistan on October 1 in the semi-final; the winner will advance to the gold-medal match, and the Asian Games title carries significance for qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.