India Triumphs Over Japan to Claim Sixth Asian Champions Trophy

India's men's hockey team clinched the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 title by defeating Japan 4-1 in the final held at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. This victory marks India's sixth title in the tournament's history and is their third consecutive win, following successes in 2023 and 2024.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh highlighted the team's composure and adherence to their strategic plans throughout the 60-minute match. Despite trailing after an early goal from Japan's Kazumasa Matsumoto in the third minute, India demonstrated resilience and came back stronger after half-time.

Harmanpreet remarked, "Our target and focus remained the same: to stay focused for the entire 60 minutes. Regardless of the score, we stuck to the plan we were given." He credited the squad's patient approach, especially in the final quarter when they secured three goals.

The turning point came in the 42nd minute when Shilanand Lakra equalised for India with a penalty corner variation involving the captain. Shortly after, Dilpreet Singh put India ahead in the 47th minute, and Jugraj Singh extended the lead with a powerful drag-flick just five minutes later. Vivek Sagar Prasad rounded off the scoring in the 53rd minute.

Forward Mandeep Singh, who played a pivotal role in the campaign, expressed satisfaction with their back-to-back triumphs, thanking the enthusiastic crowd for their support. He said, "It feels great that we have won back-to-back gold medals. Our second half went very well."

Former Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, who attended the final and medal distribution, emphasised the importance of hosting an international hockey tournament in Punjab. She remarked, "The feeling of playing on home ground is truly special. It’s wonderful that an international tournament is being held in Punjab for the first time."

She noted the challenging start for India, acknowledging Japan's preparedness. However, Rani commended India's shift to a more traditional attacking style, which proved decisive.

With this victory, India has established a notable record in the Asian Champions Trophy, having previously won in 2011, 2016, and 2018 (shared), alongside their recent wins. Japan, on the other hand, finished as runners-up for the third time, having previously lost in 2013 and 2021. Earlier in the day, Malaysia secured the bronze medal by defeating South Korea 5-2 after recovering from an early deficit.