Rajma-chawal, aaloo paranthas, coach Craig's positivity: Hardik, Manpreet speak after Asian Games hockey gold

By Vipul Kashyap Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], October 3 (ANI): Indian hockey stars Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh, who secured the Asian Games gold medal and the LA 2028 Olympics qualification, spoke on the dietary indulgences they are planning post the hard-earned medal, coach Craig Fulton's positivity and the team's belief in their attacking abilities.

Indian men's hockey team clinched the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final on Saturday, securing back-to-back gold medals at the continental event.

This is India's 85th medal at the Asian Games, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.

India also qualified for the LA Olympics 2028.

Speaking after the match to ANI, Hardik said that the team trusted their structure and had belief that even in the last five seconds, they could score a goal.

He highlighted a change in the team's game, as they went from conceding a lot during the final few seconds to scoring goals in the dying minutes of the match on their way to the medal and hailed the team's defence.

'We trusted our structure, we trusted our training that we do in Bengaluru, and we knew that even in the last 5 seconds, we could score a goal.

That was on our minds-where earlier we used to concede goals in the last 5 or 30 seconds, this time we scored a goal instead.

I think that was a key area where we worked hard.

And in the final match too, we knew that these teams play on counter-attacks and execute really well.

Hats off to our defenders and goalkeepers, who did a fantastic job,' he said.

Hardik said that despite the accommodation issues that the team faced and the windy, rainy conditions at times, the focus was always on winning the gold medal.

The Indian vice-captain also hailed the gold to the entire squad who trained in Bengaluru, including the India A team, from which several members could not make the cut for the Asian Games squad.

'I want to dedicate this medal to my entire squad training in Bengaluru, because it is not just us-it is the whole 33-member India 'A' squad.

Even though they did not get a chance to be part of the final team, because of them, we keep getting better and better.

Also, to my family and the team.

This medal was one of the hardest to achieve,' he said.

Speaking about the food he would love to have going back....