India reached the men’s hockey final at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, beating Pakistan 4-3 in a hard-fought semi-final at the Kawasaki Juko Stadium in Nagoya. Abhishek scored the winner in the final minute after Pakistan had fought back from 3-0 down to level the match.
India race into a 3-0 lead
India controlled the early exchanges. Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the first quarter to put his side 2-0 ahead. Pakistan won four penalty corners, three in the first quarter and one early in the second, but could not convert any of them.
Sukhjeet Singh extended India’s advantage in the 23rd minute with a field goal, and at 3-0 the contest looked decided. Pakistan finally got on the scoresheet in the last minute of the second quarter when Abu Bakar Mahmood converted a penalty corner.
Pakistan fight back to 3-3
The third quarter belonged to Pakistan. Hannan Shahid pulled another goal back in the 45th minute with a field goal, cutting the deficit to one. Four minutes into the final quarter, Rana Waheed Ashraf finished the comeback, scoring in the 49th minute to make it 3-3 with just over ten minutes left.
A shootout seemed likely, but India found the decisive goal in the closing minute. Abhishek’s strike sealed a 4-3 win and ended Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the final.
Bronze-medal match awaits Pakistan
India progress to the gold-medal match. Pakistan will contest the bronze-medal playoff against the loser of the other semi-final, either Malaysia or South Korea. The playoff gives Pakistan a chance to finish on the podium after coming within a minute of taking their arch-rivals to a shootout.
How the goals fell
- First quarter: Harmanpreet Singh scores twice (India 2-0)
- 23rd minute: Sukhjeet Singh adds a field goal (India 3-0)
- End of second quarter: Abu Bakar Mahmood converts a penalty corner (3-1)
- 45th minute: Hannan Shahid scores a field goal (3-2)
- 49th minute: Rana Waheed Ashraf equalises (3-3)
- Final minute: Abhishek nets the winner (India 4-3)
What was the score in the India vs Pakistan Asian Games hockey semi-final?
India won 4-3. Abhishek scored the winner in the final minute at the Kawasaki Juko Stadium in Nagoya on October 1, 2026.
Who scored for Pakistan against India?
Abu Bakar Mahmood scored from a penalty corner, Hannan Shahid added a field goal in the 45th minute, and Rana Waheed Ashraf equalised in the 49th minute.
Who will Pakistan play in the bronze-medal match?
Pakistan will face either Malaysia or South Korea in the bronze-medal playoff.
