Asian Games 2026: Indian Hockey Faces Turbulent Times, Says Viren Rasquinha

Next week the Aichi‑Nagoya stadiums will host the Asian Games 2026, and the Indian men’s hockey team will step onto the field with a mission: defend the gold they lifted in Hangzhou three years ago and, in doing so, lock in a direct berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The draw has placed India in Group A alongside hosts Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Harmanpreet Singh’s side opens against Indonesia on September 20, then faces Sri Lanka, South Korea, Japan and Bangladesh in quick succession. It’s a packed schedule, and the pressure is palpable.

While the women’s squad finished a respectable fifth at the 2026 FIH World Cup, the men’s team stumbled to an eighth‑place finish – a result that still feels fresh. Both squads know that a gold medal will guarantee them an Olympic slot, sparing them the rigors of a separate qualification tournament.

India’s record at the Asian Games is impressive: gold medals in 1966, 1998, 2014 and, most recently, 2023. Yet the nation has never managed back‑to‑back golds. Adding to the on‑field stakes, Hockey India is grappling with internal turbulence after the recent dismissal of its Director General by former captain Dilip Tirkey.

“There’s definitely a turbulent period on the administrative side,” Viren Rasquinha told India.com in an exclusive interview. “But as players, we have to compartmentalise – focus on what we can control and not let off‑field drama distract us.” Rasquinha, who won silver at the 2002 Asian Games, believes the senior squad has the experience to block out the noise.

He cautions against complacency. “One bad day can undo months of work. Remember 2018? We had a rough semi‑final and the dream slipped away. Expectations are high after two Olympic bronzes and the recent Asian Games gold, so we can’t afford to take anything for granted.”

The women’s team, on the other hand, secured a bronze in 2023 and last tasted gold back in 1982 in Delhi. Rasquinha sees the upcoming tournament as a “golden chance” for both men and women to secure that coveted Olympic ticket, which would smoothen preparations for LA 28.

Beyond hockey, India’s overall medal haul may dip this time around. Two‑time Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is sidelined with injury, and the compound archery events – which contributed three golds in Hangzhou – won’t be on the programme in Japan. “We finished with 28 golds in Hangzhou, but we’ll likely see fewer this time,” Rasquinha said, noting the gap with powerhouse South Korea.

For Rasquinha, the ultimate ambition remains simple yet lofty: “Our end goal should be to win Olympic gold for men’s hockey. The Asian Games is a stepping stone, but the real prize is the Olympics.”

As the Indian contingent packs their bags for Japan, the nation watches with hope, nerves and the quiet confidence that a focused squad can turn turbulent times into triumph.