Asian Champions Trophy 2024 hockey: India clinch fifth title with late winner in tense final against China
Jugraj Singh scored in the fourth quarter in a closely contested final to help the Indian men’s hockey team retain the title. Harmanpreet Singh was named the Player of the Tournament.
Hockey
The Indian men’s hockey team defeated the hosts People’s Republic of China 1-0 in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 final at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir on Tuesday.
In a high-intensity clash, which saw China keep India at bay for most of the match, India’s Jugraj Singh (51’) slotted home the only goal of the game in the fourth quarter.
India, who were the defending champions, are the most successful team in the competition with five titles - 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared with Pakistan), 2023 and 2024.
India were playing in their sixth Asian Champions Trophy hockey final from the eight editions held so far. China made their maiden appearance in the final.
The Indian hockey team, fifth in the FIH rankings, were dominant in the first quarter against world No. 23 China. Harmanpreet Singh threatened to score from penalty corners but failed to convert. Manpreet Singh and Nilakanta Sharma, then, were denied from close range by China’s goalkeeper Wang Weihao in the final minutes of the first quarter.
The Craig Fulton-coached India remained in control in the second quarter but failed to take the lead. Harmanpreet shot wide from a penalty corner while his next attempt, after an unsuccessful trap on a penalty corner, hit the post as both India and China remained goalless at half time.
In the third quarter, China’s work-rate and endeavour saw them win three penalty corners but the Indian defence, headlined by first rusher Amit Rohidas, stood tall on each occasion.
With only nine minutes to go, Jugraj Singh scored his second goal of the tournament from close range to help break the deadlock. Skipper Harmanpreet set up the chance with an enterprising run through the left of China’s D.
Later, the hosts rallied in attack in the closing stages of the final but were unable to penetrate the Indian defence.
Harmanpreet, notably, finished as India’s leading goal-scorer and second in the overall tally at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 with seven goals - two field goals and five penalty corners. He was named the Player of the Tournament.
The Republic of Korea’s Yang Jihun topped the scoring charts with nine goals. Earlier in the day, Pakistan defeated South Korea 5-2 to clinch the bronze medal.
Asian Champions Trophy 2024 hockey: India's scores and results
Match 1: India 3-0 China (India: Sukhjeet Singh 14’, Uttam Singh 27’, Abhishek 32’)
Match 2: India 5-1 Japan (India: Sukhjeet Singh 2’, 60’, Abhishek 2’, Sanjay 17’, Uttam Singh 54’; Japan: Matsumoto Kazumasa 41’)
Match 3: India 8-1 Malaysia (India: Raj Kumar Pal 3’, 25’, 33’, Araijeet Singh Hundal 6’, 39’, Jugraj Singh 7’, Harmanpreet Singh 22’, Uttam Singh 40’; Malaysia: Akhimullah Anuar 11’)
Match 4: India 3-1 South Korea (India: Harmanpreet Singh 9’, 43’, Araijeet Singh Hundal 8’; South Korea: Jihun Yang 30’)
Match 5: India 2-1 Pakistan (India: Harmanpreet Singh 13’, 19’; Pakistan: Ahmad Nadeem 8’)
Semi-final: India 4-1 South Korea (India: Harmanpreet Singh 19’, 45’, Uttam Singh 13’, Jarmanpreet Singh 32’; South Korea: Yang Ji-Hun 33’)
Final: India 1-0 China (India: Jugraj Singh 51’)
Asian Champions Trophy 2024 hockey award winners
- Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament - Yang Jihun (9 Goals) - Korea
- Promising Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Kim Jaehan - Korea
- Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Wang Caiyu - China
- Rising Star of the Tournament - Hanan Shahid - Pakistan
- Player of the Tournament - Harmanpreet Singh - India