With a spirited 1-0 victory over the host China on Tuesday, the resolute Indian Hockey Team won their fifth Asian Champions Trophy.
Indian Hockey Team At Asian Champions Trophy Final 2024:
The undefeated Indian Hockey Team finished the competition with flawless dominance, winning every game they played. The champions worked hard before defeating their opponents, and Jugraj Singh, a defender, scored a rare field goal. The opening three quarters saw the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian team struggle to penetrate the Chinese defense. In the 51st minute, Jugraj broke the tie. He gave the bronze medalists from the Paris Olympics the victory over a determined Chinese team competing in their second-ever international competition final.
China has never before made it to an international competition final; in the Asian Games in 2006, they lost to Korea 1-3 and came in second place.
Pakistan secured the third position in the six-team competition earlier in the day with a 5-2 victory over Korea.
The Indian Hockey Team went into the match as the favorites because they had beaten China 3-0 in their league opener, but the match ended up being quite tight. Even though the former had more scoring opportunities in the first two quarters, it was a fiercely contested match between the two teams.
With quick counterattacks, the Chinese worried their opponents while maintaining a strong defense. The first attempt at goal for India went to Raj Kumar Pal, but Chinese goalie Wang Weihao stopped his shot.
Raj Kumar made a strong enough recovery to earn India’s first penalty corner in the tenth minute. His skillful stick work produced another set piece, but Harmanpreet, the captain, missed the mark on his second attempt.
After being fed by Jugraj, Nilakanta Sharma saw a good save from Wang two minutes later. The Chinese goalie then displayed incredible reflexes to deny Sukhjeet Singh.
India gave up a penalty corner only seconds before the first quarter ended, but Krishan Bahadur Pathak was vigilant in front of the goal.
In the second quarter, China relied on counterattacks as India dominated possession. The script remained unchanged.
China put up a masterful exhibition of deep defense, but India went for the goal. When the Indians placed pressure on the hosts, they remained composed and did not panic.
Sukhjeet Singh won a penalty corner in the 27th minute, but Harmanpreet’s effort struck the crossbar, and China did just enough to keep India scoreless at the break.
Following the change of ends, the deft-footed Chinese emerged with fresh energy and launched many attacks on the Indian bastion.
In the 38th minute, China managed to earn their second penalty corner, but the Indian defense held strong.
The Indian goalkeeper Pathak was vigilant beneath the bar as the Chinese persisted in their aggressive approach, earning back-to-back penalty corners in the 40th minute.
The youthful Indian forward line, who played admirably in the competition, had several opportunities to break through the Chinese defense but was unable to reach the goal.
To break the impasse, Harmanpreet had to make a stunning surge.
India exhaled with relief as the in-form captain of India edged into the Chinese circle with some deft stick work and transferred the ball to teammate defender Jugraj, who pushed it in past the opposing goalkeeper.
Four minutes from the gun, China pulled their goalkeeper in favor of an extra field player, buoyed by the support of the home fans, but the Indians prevailed because they controlled the ball and mounted a strong defense.
