Mohali, Nov 6: The Indian men’s hockey team created history at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, securing a record-extending sixth Asian Champions Trophy title with a commanding 4-1 victory over Japan in the final. The win completed an unbeaten tournament run of seven consecutive victories for the hosts, marking a hat-trick of titles following their previous triumphs in 2023 and 2024. In the bronze medal match held earlier in the day, Malaysia produced a strong performance to defeat South Korea 5-2 and claim third place in the competition.
The final began with an early challenge for the defending champions when Japan’s Kazumasa Matsumoto converted a backhander in the third minute to take a 1-0 lead that held through the first half. India mounted a relentless comeback in the third quarter, equalizing in the 42nd minute through Shilanand Lakra off a penalty corner setup initiated by captain Harmanpreet Singh. The host nation then dominated the final quarter as Dilpreet Singh scored in the 47th minute, Jugraj Singh converted a drag-flick in the 52nd minute, and Vivek Sagar Prasad added a fourth goal in the 53rd minute to seal the victory. With this win, India adds to its previous continental titles from 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2024, while Japan finished as runners-up for the third time in tournament history.
