In a thunderbolt of a match, India’s men’s hockey squad buried Malaysia 5-1, clinching a spot in the 2028 Olympics.
The turning point came in the 42nd minute when Dhruv Kumar, after a blistering break, netted a wrist‑shot that put the score at 2-0. From there, the Indian side rode a wave of pressure, closing the gap to 4-1 in the 55th minute before sealing the win in the final over.
Captain Dhruv Kumar, who has been the backbone of the team, said, "We kept the focus on each break, never letting Malaysia get a foothold. The goal was a culmination of every training session."
With five gold medals from wrestling, golf, cricket, archery and hockey on Saturday, India’s overall tally climbed to 21 golds, 27 silver, 37 bronze – a total of 85 medals, pushing them to fourth place in the standings.
Next up, India’s men’s cricket team will face Pakistan in the semi‑finals on Sunday, a showdown that could set the stage for an all‑Indian final.