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India Rout South Korea 4-1 to Win Asia Cup, Secure 2026 World Cup Berth

Team leaders say the focus now turns to structured preparation for next year's World Cup.

Overview

  • Captain Harmanpreet Singh and former skipper Manpreet Singh dedicated the triumph to people affected by severe floods, saluting the Indian Army, NDRF and rescue volunteers.
  • India completed an unbeaten campaign in Rajgir with five wins and one draw, including a Super 4s stalemate with South Korea before dominating the final.
  • The title delivers direct qualification to the 2026 FIH Men’s World Cup, which will be hosted in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Coach Craig Fulton praised the squad’s resilience after seven matches in 10 days in warm conditions, calling their level worthy of champions.
  • The victory is India’s fourth Asia Cup crown after 2003, 2007 and 2017, and players said their training will now target sustaining that standard into 2026.