India beat Japan 4-1 to win record sixth Asian Champions Trophy title

The Indian men's hockey team once again proved its dominance at the Asian Champions Trophy. In the final on Thursday, India beat Japan 4-1 and won the title for a record sixth time. With this win, India have won the trophy three times in a row.

The Indian team remained unbeaten through the tournament. India had earlier won the event in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024.

The final, played at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium, did not begin well for India. Japan took the lead in the third minute through a field goal by Kazumasa Matsumoto. Matsumoto struck a tomahawk shot brilliantly to give the Indian team a jolt. India could not score in the first quarter. In the 20th minute Japan won two penalty corners in a row, but the Indian defence thwarted both attempts.

Jarmanpreet Singh showed strong play in defence for India. India trailed 0-1 at half-time, but the course of the match changed in the second half.

India won their first penalty corner in the 33rd minute, but captain Harmanpreet Singh's shot was stopped by Japan goalkeeper Kisho Kuroda. Japan also won a penalty corner in the 39th minute, but Shota Yamada's attempt did not succeed.

The Indian team kept up constant pressure on Japan's defence. In the 42nd minute India won two penalty corners in a row. From one of them, Shilanand Lakra scored from the rebound off a pass from Aditya Arjun Lalage to make it 1-1.

In the 48th minute, Dilpreet Singh scored with a reverse hit off an accurate pass from Hardik, and India went 2-1 ahead. After taking the lead, the Indian players' confidence grew further.

In the 53rd minute Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner to make it 3-1. Just a minute later, Vivek Sagar Prasad scored the fourth goal with a powerful shot from the top of the circle. In the closing moments Japan won a fourth penalty corner, but captain Raiki Fujishima's shot went wide of the goalpost. India finally sealed the title with a emphatic 4-1 win.