"Qualifying For LA2028 Was The Biggest Relief": Hardik Singh After India's Asian Games Hockey Gold

India's men's hockey team created history by successfully defending its Asian Games gold medal, defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final to secure a direct qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The triumph also helped India finish with 85 medals in the standings. Speaking to NDTV after the final, Hardik Singh, who scored from a penalty stroke, admitted that the team was wary of a Malaysian fightback throughout the contest and had to remain switched on at all times. He also acknowledged that India had conceded some soft goals during the tournament and still had room for improvement despite the gold-medal success.