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India recovered from an early setback to beat Japan 4-1 and complete a historic hat-trick of Asian Champions Trophy titles.
Indian men’s hockey team wins the Asian Champions Trophy (Picture credit: X @TheHockeyIndia)
Defending champions India clinched a hat-trick of titles and their sixth overall crown at the men’s Asian Champions Trophy, beating Japan 4-1 in Thursday’s final.
Asian Games gold medallists India had earlier won the tournament in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024.
It was, however, Japan who stunned the Indian team in the third minute by scoring a field goal through Kazumasa Matsumoto.
India regrouped and took control thereafter, with Shilanand Lakra converting a penalty corner in the 42nd minute, Dipreet Singh scoring from a field effort six minutes later and Jugraj adding another goal from a set piece in the 53rd minute.
Vivek Sagar Prasad made it 4-1 for the home team in the 54th minute.
India had also beat Japan 4-1 in their earlier round-robin encounter at the Olympian Surjit Singh Stadium in Jalandhar.
Japan pushed India hard in the first two quarters on Thursday, but the hosts responded well after the break to take control of the contest.
India made a positive start, but Japan struck against the run of play in the third minute, with Matsumoto finding the net with a tomahawk to stun the hosts in front of a packed crowd at the Olympian Balbir Singh Stadium.
The Indians, thereafter, showed urgency and created a few opportunities but lacked the final finishing.
Japan earned consecutive penalty corners in the 20th minute, but India’s defence stood firm to thwart an attempt by Japan skipper Raiki Fujishima.
Vice-captain Hardik Singh, who made his 200th international appearance on Thursday, orchestrated India’s midfield, linking the defence with the forward line and creating scoring chances.
Jarmanpreet Singh, on the other hand, was rock solid in defence with his brilliant work ethic.
Trailing 0-1, India returned with renewed intent after the half-time break and earned their first penalty corner in the 33rd minute, but skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s flick was kept out by Japanese goalkeeper Kisho Kuroda.
(With PTI Inputs)
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Ask News18India defeated Japan 4-1 in the final to clinch their sixth overall Asian Champions Trophy title and a hat-trick of titles.
Ask News18November 05, 2026, 21:37 IST
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