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Key Points

India's men's hockey team has finally ended their eight-year wait for the Asia Cup title. Captain Harmanpreet Singh specifically praised the incredible crowd support in Rajgir throughout the tournament. The 4-1 victory over defending champions South Korea also secured India's qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Players emphasized that their success came from maintaining consistent team strategy and unity from day one.

Key Points: Harmanpreet Singh Hails Rajgir Crowd After India Wins Asia Cup

  • India qualifies for 2026 Hockey World Cup with Asia Cup victory
  • Team ends eight-year continental title drought with 4-1 final win
  • Players credit cohesive team strategy and fan support
  • Bihar government receives praise for tournament organization
  • Each player receives INR 3 lakh reward for historic achievement
2 min read

Great support from crowd: Harmanpreet hails fans after India wins Asia Cup

India ends 8-year Asia Cup drought with 4-1 win over South Korea, qualifies for 2026 World Cup. Harmanpreet Singh praises fan support in Rajgir.

"The support of the crowd at Rajgir and the arrangements there were great - Harmanpreet Singh"

Amritsar, September 8

After clinching the Men's Asia Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win over defending champions South Korea at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium on Sunday, Indian Hockey team skipper Harmanpreet Singh hailed the crowd at Rajgir for supporting the team throughout the tournament.

With this win, India has ended the eight-year-long wait to regain supremacy on the continent. With this win, India has qualified for the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The last time India won the Hockey World Cup was in 1975, and in the previous World Cup, they lost to New Zealand in the crossovers.

While speaking to ANI, Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh said, "We have qualified for the World Cup with this tournament. The support of the crowd at Rajgir and the arrangements there were great. Thanks to the Bihar government for taking this initiative."

Man-of-the-match in the final, Dilpreet Singh attributed the team's success to their strategy of playing as a cohesive unit from the start of the tournament, emphasising that their teamwork paid off in the final against S.Korea

"We were trying to play as a team right from day one. There were so many 'Man of the Match' in every match. Our strategy and structure stayed the same throughout," Dilpreet Singh told ANI.

Indian hockey player Hardik Singh expressed delight at qualifying for the World Cup and said that now our efforts will be to perform well in the World Cup next year.

"We received a grand welcome here. It feels great that we have qualified for the World Cup, which was our goal for the Asia Cup. Now our efforts will be to perform well in the World Cup," Hardik Singh told ANI.

The last time they won the Asia Cup was in 2017, in Dhaka. Goals were scored by Dilpreet Singh (28',45'), Sukhjeet Singh (1') and Amit Rohidas (50'). The 4-1 scoreline hardly affected India's determination to lift the title. They held on to the lead in the dying minutes to end the eight-year-long wait.

Following the Indian Men's Hockey Team's historic win at the Asia Cup Hockey, India announced INR 3 lakh each to players and INR 1.5 lakh to the support staff.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
So proud of our boys! The way they maintained their strategy throughout the tournament shows excellent coaching and discipline. Bihar government deserves appreciation for hosting such a successful event with great arrangements.
D
David E
As someone who follows international hockey, I must say India's performance was clinical. The 4-1 scoreline against defending champions South Korea speaks volumes about their improvement. World Cup qualification is well deserved!
A
Ananya R
While the win is fantastic, I hope the cash rewards don't make the team complacent. The real challenge is the World Cup next year. We need to build on this momentum and aim for the ultimate prize! 🇮🇳
V
Vikram M
The crowd support in Rajgir was incredible! You could feel the energy through the screen. This is what Indian hockey needs - passionate fans across the country, not just in traditional hockey hubs.
S
Siddharth J
From Sukhjeet's early goal to Amit Rohidas sealing it in the 50th minute - what a complete team performance! Every player contributed when it mattered. This victory tastes sweet after the long wait.

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