 "Asian Champions Trophy: India beat China 1-0 in final, clinch record-extending fifth title")
India successfully defended their Asian Champions Trophy title after they beat hosts China 1-0 in the final of the 2024 edition at Hulunbuir on Tuesday. After three goalless quarters, India rode on Jugraj Singh’s 51st minute goal to win the final and clinch a record-extending fifth title.
India have now won the Asian Champions Trophy titles in 2011, 2016, 2023 and 2024, apart from being declared joint winners with arch-rivals Pakistan in 2018. India had lost to Pakistan 4-5 in the final of the 2012 edition.
As it happened | India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy final
This was the first time that China had qualified for the final of the Asian Champions Trophy, after having endured fourth-place finishes twice, in 2012 and 2013.
India fail to convert PCs
Coming to the match, India won their first penalty corner of the match in the 10th minute. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s effort was blocked by the Chinese defence, although illegally, and the penalty corner had to be taken once again. In the second attempt, Harmanpreet’s effort went wide of the goal.
For China, it was about putting India’s defenders under pressure. The hosts, too, won a penalty corner just before the end of the first quarter, but their attempt was saved by India goalkeeper Krishan Pathak.
India got a big opportunity to score in the 27th minute, courtesy a mistrapped penalty corner from Harmanpreet Singh. He tried to push the ball into the corner of the goal, but the ball came bouncing back off the goalpost.
Jugraj scores the winner
India won another penalty corner soon after, once Manpreet Singh was brought down by China goalkeeper Wang inside the circle. However, China reviewed the decision, and the hosts won the referral after replays seemed to suggest that Manpreet attempted to jump over the keeper.
China won a couple of penalty corners in the third quarter as Indian defenders had their task cut out. In the 41st minute of the match, Krishan Pathak made a fine save to deny the hosts a goal, whereas Hundal’s effort in the last few minutes of the third quarter went wide.
It was everything to play for in the final quarter of the match and it wasn’t until the 51st minute when the visitors broke the deadlock. Harmanpreet Singh was at it once again. He made a brilliant run into the D and set up Jugraj Singh, who did the rest by guiding the ball past the net.
With less than 10 minutes, China only had a goal on their mind. Changliang Lin made a couple of dangerous runs early on in the fourth quarter, but India began taking control of the game. In a desperate move, they even brought up their goalkeeper onto the field of play with the hope of finding an equaliser, but the Indian defenders rose to the occasion with a scintillating display to deny China any hope of a breakthrough.
Hockey India announced a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh for each player, and Rs 1.5 lakh for every support staff member to celebrate the Asian Champions Trophy win.
List of award winners
Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament - Yang Jihun (9 Goals) - Korea
Promising Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Kim Jaehan - Korea
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Wang Caiyu - China
Rising Star of the Tournament - Hanan Shahid - Pakistan
Player of the Tournament - Harmanpreet Singh - India
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