Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 hockey: India edge out China 1-0 in final to secure third title

The Indian hockey team beat the People’s Republic of China 1-0 in the final to win the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar on Wednesday.

Deepika (31’) scored the winning goal for the Indian women’s hockey team and finished as the tournament's top goal scorer with a tally of 11.

This was India’s third Women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey title, bringing them level with the Republic of Korea as the most successful nation in the competition’s history. The Indian women won their maiden title in 2016 before clinching the 2023 edition as well.

Fans were treated to some end-to-end hockey in the first-half as world No. 9 India and China, sixth in the latest rankings, virtually traded chances.

Both sides came close to scoring from penalty corners in the second quarter but the goalkeepers stood strong to keep the opening half goalless.

Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallists China, however, were caught napping after the restart as the home side went ahead.

Interestingly, it was a miss trapped penalty corner by India that caught the Chinese defensive line off guard as the ball eventually made its way to Deepika inside the circle through Navneet Kaur.

Allowed time to turn, the Indian forward managed to find her angle and scored her 11th goal of the tournament.

Deepika could have doubled her tally and India’s lead minutes later after winning a penalty stroke. She took it on herself only to watch Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting guess it right to pull off a brilliant save.

While a two-goal cushion would have made things easier for the home side in the third quarter, the Indian defence held on resolutely in the final quarter for their fifth clean sheet on the trot in the tournament and secured the record-equalling title.

Earlier in the day, Japan beat Malaysia 4-1 to finish third in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024.