"They played well, stayed united...": Manpreet's mother on Indian hockey gold
Manpreet Singh's mother shares her emotional reaction to India's historic 5-1 hockey victory against Malaysia at the 2026 Asian Games.
The Indian men's hockey team has scripted history at the 2026 Asian Games, securing a dominant 5-1 victory over Malaysia in the final to defend their continental crown. Amidst the celebrations, the mother of veteran player Manpreet Singh shared her emotional journey, moving from nervous prayers to immense pride as she watched her son and the team clinch the gold medal.
A Mother's Prayer and Anxiety
Speaking to ANI, Manpreet's mother revealed the rollercoaster of emotions she experienced while watching the high-stakes final. She admitted that the early stages of the match were particularly nerve-wracking.
"It feels very good, and I am extremely happy that today’s match was won so convincingly. Earlier, I was feeling a bit nervous, but I said a prayer to Waheguru that they must win this match," she said.
The tension peaked when Malaysia managed to score the opening goal. For a moment, the anxiety of a potential comeback from the opposition weighed heavily on her.
"When the match started and they conceded a goal first, I felt a bit of anxiety, wondering if another goal might come from the other side. But the whole team played exceptionally well, and I felt great that our team won," she added, noting that the team's unity was the key to their success.
Historic Double Gold and Olympic Qualification
The victory is not just a single win but a monumental milestone for Indian hockey. By defeating Malaysia, the team has achieved several historic feats:
- Back-to-Back Champions: India has successfully defended its Asian Games gold medal, securing consecutive titles in 2022 and 2026.
- The Fifth Gold: This marks India's fifth men's hockey gold at the Asian Games, joining the ranks of the 1966, 1998, 2014, and 2022 triumphs.
- A Rare Double: For the first time in history, both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams have won gold at the same edition of the Asian Games.
- Olympic Dreams Realised: This victory officially secures India's qualification for the LA Olympics 2028.
Hockey Joins the Elite Club
With this achievement, hockey has become only the third Indian team sport to achieve a double-gold podium finish at the continental event, following in the footsteps of cricket and kabaddi.
India's overall performance at the games continues to soar, bringing the national medal tally to 85, consisting of 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze medals.