India Wins 5th Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Title

India clinched their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title on September 17, 2024, with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China. The match, held in Chennai, was an intense affair as China made the defending champions work hard for their win. Jugraj Singh scored the decisive goal in the 51st minute, breaking the deadlock and sealing India’s victory.

Coming into the final, India had been the clear favorites, having already defeated China 3-0 in their tournament opener. However, China put up a strong fight, showing significant improvement from their earlier encounter. From the start, the Chinese team applied pressure on the Indian defense, trying to catch India on the counterattack. India’s first real chance came early in the first quarter when Sukhjeet took a shot on goal, but the Chinese goalkeeper made a good save. India earned their first penalty corner in the 9th minute, but the Chinese defense held firm, and another chance from Harmanpreet Singh went wide.

As the first quarter ended, China started to gain confidence, putting India under pressure and forcing goalkeeper Krishan Pathak into action with a couple of penalty corners. In the second quarter, China’s defense became even more resolute, frustrating the Indian attackers. India came close to breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute when Harmanpreet’s shot from a penalty corner hit the post. Moments later, India was awarded a penalty stroke after Manpreet Singh was brought down by a Chinese defender, but China successfully reviewed the decision, and the game remained goalless at halftime.

The third quarter saw India increase the pressure, creating several chances, but the Chinese defense stayed solid. Pathak made another crucial save in the 41st minute, keeping the game level. As the game entered the final quarter, India intensified their attacks, and finally, in the 51st minute, their efforts paid off. Harmanpreet Singh made a brilliant run into the circle and set up Jugraj Singh, who calmly slotted the ball past the Chinese goalkeeper, giving India the lead.

China responded by pushing for an equalizer, even bringing on a flying goalkeeper in the closing minutes, but India’s defense held strong. Despite China’s best efforts, they couldn’t find a way through, and India secured a 1-0 win to lift the trophy.

This victory marked India’s fifth Asian Champions Trophy title, cementing their status as one of the top hockey teams in Asia. The hard-fought win also demonstrated the team’s resilience and determination in the face of a strong and organized Chinese side.