Lagatar24 Desk
India’s men’s hockey team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling semifinal on Day 12 of the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, securing a place in the final for the second consecutive time.
Abhishek’s Late Goal Seals Victory
The match stayed level at 3-3 for 58 minutes, before Abhishek struck 49 seconds from full time to hand India the win. India will now look to defend their title, and a gold medal would also earn them a ticket to the 2028 Olympics. Both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams have reached their respective gold-medal matches, with the men set to face the winner of the second semifinal between Malaysia and Korea.
Medals in Squash, Sailing and Archery
On Thursday, Joshna Chinappa won a bronze medal in squash. The Indian men’s team of Manu Francis and Prince Nobel Kurisingal then claimed silver in the men’s skiff sailing event, while Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru won bronze in the men’s compound archery event by defeating Vietnam’s Cong Duc Dang.
Cricket Team Into Final, India Eighth in Medal Tally
In cricket, India beat Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the men’s semifinal to reach the final, where they will face Pakistan for the gold medal. In the medal tally, India currently stands eighth with 10 gold, 22 silver and 31 bronze, totalling 63 medals.
