India Clinches Fifth Asian Champions Trophy with Narrow Win over China

On Tuesday, September 17, the Indian men’s hockey team secured their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a determined China in a tense final. Jugraj Singh emerged as the hero, netting the only goal of the game in the 51st minute, helping India claim their second consecutive title. 

The match, held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai, was anything but easy, with China pushing the reigning champions to their limits.

Having already faced India in the tournament opener, where India secured a 3-0 victory, China came into the final prepared and determined to reverse their fortunes. The game started with China pressuring India’s defense early, much like in their previous encounter, seeking opportunities to catch India off-guard with counterattacks.

India’s first real opportunity came in the opening quarter when Sukhjeet Singh unleashed a clever shot, only to be denied by an alert Chinese goalkeeper. India soon earned two penalty corners (PCs) in quick succession, but captain Harmanpreet Singh missed both chances to convert. The quarter ended with China on the front foot, forcing Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak to make some critical saves as they earned their own PCs.

The second quarter was marked by a disciplined defensive strategy from China, who effectively “parked the bus” to keep India at bay. The hosts did not concede space easily, frustrating India’s forwards. Harmanpreet Singh came close to scoring in the 27th minute, but his penalty corner strike ricocheted off the post. 

Moments later, India thought they had been awarded a penalty stroke when Manpreet Singh was fouled in the circle. However, after a successful review by China, the decision was overturned, leaving the match deadlocked at 0-0 going into halftime.

The third quarter saw more offensive moves from India, but the Chinese defense remained steadfast. Despite getting several PCs, China couldn’t find a breakthrough, with Pathak making critical saves to deny them any real advantage. As the game entered its final quarter, both teams were looking for that elusive goal.

It finally came in the 51st minute when Harmanpreet Singh made an excellent run into the Chinese ‘D’ and set up Jugraj Singh, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, breaking the stalemate. Jugraj’s goal turned out to be the deciding moment of the match, as the Chinese were forced to abandon their defensive approach and push forward in search of an equalizer.

In the closing minutes, China threw everything they had at India, even bringing in a flying goalkeeper in a bid to force a comeback. However, India’s defense held firm under pressure, with the entire team working to maintain their slim lead. Despite China’s best efforts, they couldn’t find a way past India’s organized defense, and India managed to see out the game and lift the trophy.

Though India entered the game as clear favourites, China proved to be a tough opponent, making the defending champions work hard for their victory. This triumph marks India’s fifth Asian Champions Trophy crown, reinforcing their dominance in the tournament.

India’s captain Harmanpreet Singh, reflecting on the win, credited the team’s perseverance, saying, “China gave us a real fight, but we trusted our process and kept pushing. In the end, it was a team effort that got us through.”

With this victory, India further cements its position as one of the top teams in Asian hockey, and their performance in this tournament will undoubtedly inspire confidence as they prepare for future international competitions.