India, Oct. 3 -- India will take on Malaysia in the men's hockey gold-medal match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, with a place in the history books at stake. The defending champions are aiming to retain their continental crown and secure back-to-back Asian Games gold medals, while Malaysia will be chasing its first-ever title. The winner will also earn direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, adding even more significance to a high-pressure final.

India have been unbeaten through the tournament and overcame a major challenge from Pakistan in the semi-final, recovering from a 3-3 scoreline to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory. Malaysia, meanwhile, reached the final after edging South Korea 2-1 and have also maintaine...