India produced a dramatic late fightback of their own to defeat Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating men’s hockey semifinal at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday. Harmanpreet Singh’s side appeared firmly in control after establishing a 3-0 advantage, but Pakistan turned the contest on its head with a spirited comeback. With the match heading towards a tense finish, Abhishek struck in the closing seconds to send India into the gold-medal match.
India’s 4-3 victory over Pakistan was a match of two contrasting halves — one dominated by Indian control and the other defined by Pakistan’s relentless comeback. The result ultimately belonged to India, but the scoreline underlined how quickly momentum can change in a high-pressure knockout encounter.
Harmanpreet Singh set the tone early. The Indian captain converted two penalty corners to give his team a commanding advantage, while Sukhjeet Singh added a field goal as India moved three goals clear. The attacking efficiency gave India the kind of cushion that appeared capable of taking the sting out of the contest.
Pakistan, however, refused to allow the match to slip away. A goal before half-time provided the first indication that the semifinal was far from settled. India’s advantage was still substantial, but Pakistan had found a route back into the contest.
That belief grew during the third quarter. Pakistan scored again late in the period, capitalising on India being temporarily reduced to 10 players after Dilpreet Singh received a green card. What had looked like a comfortable Indian lead was suddenly becoming vulnerable.
The pressure intensified in the final quarter. Pakistan continued to attack with greater purpose and found the equaliser through Waheed Rana in the 49th minute. A swift move down the right created the opening, with the ball being delivered into the circle for Rana to finish. Suddenly, the two-goal cushion had disappeared and India were facing the prospect of surrendering a match they had controlled for long periods.
The defining moment came in the final minute. With only 49 seconds remaining, Abhishek found the decisive opening and converted it to restore India’s lead at 4-3. Instead of allowing the comeback to turn into a painful collapse, India found one final attacking response when it mattered most.
The victory takes India into the men’s hockey final, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal between Malaysia and South Korea. India’s women’s team has also reached the final after defeating South Korea 2-0, setting up a rare double-final appearance for Indian hockey at the Asian Games.
For the men, the semifinal will be remembered not simply as another win over Pakistan, but as a test of resilience. India went from a position of commanding control to being level at 3-3, before producing the decisive moment at the very end. The ability to recover after surrendering a three-goal lead could prove as significant as the victory itself when the team returns for the gold-medal match.
The final now presents India with another opportunity to convert its Asian Games campaign into a gold-medal triumph. After surviving one of the most dramatic passages of the tournament, the defending champions have one more hurdle between themselves and the top step of the podium.
Leave Your Comment