India Clinch 5th Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Title with 1-0 Win Over China

India claimed their fifth Asian Champions Trophy crown by defeating a determined China 1-0 on Tuesday. Jugraj Singh’s crucial goal in the 51st minute secured the victory for the defending champions, as China put up a valiant fight.

India, who had previously beaten China 3-0 in their tournament opener, entered the final as the clear favourites. However, the Chinese side pushed the hosts to their limits, especially in the early stages of the match. China tried to put India’s defence under pressure, just as they had in their first encounter.

The first real opportunity came for India in the opening quarter when Sukhjeet’s shot was well-saved by the Chinese goalkeeper. Despite earning penalty corners early on, India couldn’t convert, with Harmanpreet Singh missing the target in the 9th minute. China ended the quarter on a high, forcing Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak into action with a couple of penalty corners.

In the second quarter, China continued to defend resolutely, making it difficult for India to find breakthroughs. India nearly scored in the 27th minute when a mistrapped penalty corner by Harmanpreet hit the post. India was later awarded a penalty stroke, but China successfully overturned the decision after a review, leading to a 0-0 scoreline at halftime.

India dominated possession in the third quarter, but China’s defence stood firm. Pathak made another critical save in the 41st minute to deny a Chinese penalty corner. As the game progressed, India’s pressure mounted, with several close chances, but the score remained goalless entering the final quarter.

In the 51st minute, India finally broke through. Harmanpreet Singh’s run into the D set up Jugraj Singh, who calmly slotted the ball home to give India the lead. China responded by pushing forward aggressively, even bringing in a flying goalkeeper, but the Indian defence held strong to secure the narrow win and the title.