India secures record sixth hockey title by overpowering Japan
Defending champions India delivered a stunning second-half response to beat Japan 4-1 in Mohali, securing a historic sixth Asian Champions Trophy.
Trailing early in the match, the men’s hockey team rallied with four quick goals to complete a brilliant tournament hat-trick. Playing in front of a packed stadium, the hosts finished their campaign completely undefeated with seven consecutive wins.
Overcoming early pressure
Japan silenced the home crowd when Kazumasa Matsumoto hit a sharp backhand shot just three minutes into the contest. The visiting side successfully defended this narrow advantage until half-time. India retaliated fiercely after the break. Shilanand Lakra leveled the match in the 42nd minute following a smart penalty corner routine initiated by captain Harmanpreet Singh.Once tied, the hosts took total control of the final quarter. Dilpreet Singh pushed his team forward in the 47th minute. Jugraj Singh unleashed a powerful drag-flick five minutes later, before Vivek Sagar Prasad quickly finalized the 4-1 scoreline. Historically, this victory builds upon India’s previous regional titles, cementing their absolute dominance in continental field hockey.
Malaysia secures third place
Earlier in the day, Malaysia captured the bronze medal by overpowering South Korea 5-2. Despite falling behind early, the squad bounced back strongly in the second half. Abu Kamal Azrai delivered a standout performance with two crucial goals, earning Man of the Match honors for his impressive finishing.