On Tuesday, the Indian men's hockey team defended their Asian Champions Trophy title in style, overcoming the home crowd in China with a tight 1-0 victory. The match was held at the beautiful Moqi Hockey Training Base within the China Daur Ethnic Park in Hulunbuir. This win follows closely on the heels of India's second consecutive bronze medal at the Olympics.
The game's deadlock was finally broken in the 51st minute when Jugraj Singh scored the decisive goal. China didn't make it easy, putting the Indian defense through a series of tough tests, but Harmanpreet Singh and his teammates managed to protect their lead until the final whistle. This victory gives India a record-breaking five titles, making them the most successful nation in the competition's history.
India has now set a unique record as the only team to win the Asian Champions Trophy five times, securing titles in two straight editions (2023 and 2024), similar to their back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2018. In recognition of this success, Hockey India announced cash rewards of Rs 3 lakh for players and Rs 1.5 lakh for the support crew. Additionally, the team's captain, Harmanpreet, was named the MVP of the tournament.
The final started slowly, with both teams finding it difficult to establish a rhythm. India's Vivek created the first major scare, dribbling into the circle to set up Sukhjeet, whose unexpected shot was barely saved by Chinese keeper Wang Weihao. Throughout the first quarter, India maintained the pressure, while China looked to exploit gaps in the Indian defense through quick half-court counterattacks.
India's attacking line—composed of Rajkumar, Sukhjeet, Nilakanta, and Raheel—kept the Chinese defenders on their toes. Harmanpreet nearly scored from a penalty corner, though his flick narrowly missed. China responded with a penalty corner of their own, but Krishan Pathak came up with a sharp save to deny Jiesheng Gao.
In the second quarter, India deliberately slowed the pace, trying to pick apart China's disciplined defense. Sukhjeet earned another penalty corner late in the half, but Harmanpreet's effort hit the post. Shortly after, China's Benhai Chen launched a dangerous counter, but a crucial sliding tackle by Jugraj kept the game scoreless going into the break.
The intensity ramped up in the third quarter as India pushed harder, though China's backline remained resolute. Harmanpreet linked up well with Abhishek several times, but they couldn't find the back of the net. China had two penalty corner opportunities midway through the period, but Pathak's quick reflexes kept them at bay. China ended the quarter with a strong push, but the Indian defense held firm.
Early in the final quarter, China's Changliang Lin attempted some risky runs, but India quickly regained control of the match. Their persistence finally paid off when Harmanpreet Singh spotted Jugraj Singh in the circle; Jugraj clinicaly slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner to give India the lead.
China threw everything forward in the closing minutes to find an equalizer, leading to a high-tension finish. However, India kept their cool, managing the clock and possession effectively to secure their fifth Hero Asian Champions Trophy title.
In the battle for third place, Pakistan put on a dominant performance to beat South Korea 5-2 and claim the bronze medal. The scoring was led by Sufyan Khan (38', 49'), Hannan Shahid (39', 54'), and Rooman (45'), while Jihun Yang (40') and Jungjun Lee (16') scored for South Korea. Despite a shaky start and a semifinal loss to China, Pakistan bounced back strongly in the second half to win the match.