India’s Hockey Team beat China to Lift 5th Consecutive Asian Champions Trophy
Team India enjoyed a dream run across the tournament and that too, on unfamiliar territory.
After securing the Bronze in the recent Paris Olympics, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team has just added another feather to its cap. Yes, the gritty unit overcame a spirited fight from hosts China to win the Asian Champions Trophy, and that too, for the fifth time running. Victory could not be sweeter than that achieved in an enemies’ own backyard. The Indian stick-wielders had won previous editions of the title in 2011, 2016 (shared with Pakistan), 2018 and 2021.
It was a fitting conclusion to the tournament for the Harmanpreet Singh-led side that had remained unbeaten throughout. This feat, the Indians accomplished by overcoming challenges in the league phase from China, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and traditional rivals Pakistan. During this fantastic run, India scored 21 goals while conceding just 4! The Indian team continued their domineering streak by brushing aside Korea in the semi-finals 4-1. The latter went on to lose to Pakistan 2-5, in the third place playoff.
China, which also had a robust campaign, made for worthy opponents in the Final. But it was India who came up trumps in the presence of a partisan crowd at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in China’s north-eastern city of Hulunbuir. However, while India started off the climatic match aggressively, China was solid in defence. It was well into the second quarter when India earned a penalty corner, but jitters got the better of drag-flicker Harmanpreet and he failed to convert.
In the third quarter, the hosts again withstood waves of attacks by their opponents, while failing to convert a counter-attacking penalty corner. Then, India’s Amir Ali got slapped with a green card, potentially strengthening China’s chances. But the stalemate continued into the fourth quarter, before India’s Jugraj Singh coolly shot a field goal, finding himself at the right place and time to guide the ball past the “Great Wall of China” goalie – Wang Caiyu. Then, it was just a question of Team India holding its nerve and keeping its guard up till the final hooter, which signalled a historic win for the visitors.
