India Clinches Asian Champions Trophy 2026 with 4-1 Victory Over Japan

Harmanpreet Singh Praises Team's Composure

After a thrilling match, India’s men's hockey captain, Harmanpreet Singh, commended his team's ability to maintain composure and adhere to their strategy, leading to a 4-1 victory against Japan in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 final held at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. He emphasized that the team's focus was on executing their game plan for the full 60 minutes, regardless of the score, and praised the players for their calmness, especially in the final quarter.

Commitment to Strategy

"Our objective was clear: to remain focused throughout the match. No matter the score, we adhered to our strategy. We aimed to deliver a strong performance, and in the final quarter, we managed to score some impressive goals. The key was our patience and composure in response to various situations, which the entire team exhibited, culminating in some excellent goals towards the end," Harmanpreet shared after the match.

A Record-Breaking Campaign

With this victory, India has now secured six Asian Champions Trophy titles, marking a hat-trick of consecutive wins after triumphs in 2023 and 2024. The defending champions concluded their campaign undefeated, achieving seven victories in as many matches.

Japan initially startled India when Kazumasa Matsumoto scored a stunning backhand goal in the third minute. The visitors maintained their 1-0 lead until halftime, but India turned the tide after the break. Shilanand Lakra equalized in the 42nd minute with a penalty corner variation involving Harmanpreet, followed by Dilpreet Singh putting India ahead in the 47th minute. Jugraj Singh added to the score with a powerful drag-flick in the 52nd minute, and Vivek Sagar Prasad sealed the match with a goal just a minute later, concluding the game at 4-1.

Player Reactions and Fan Support

Mandeep Singh, an Indian forward who contributed to the title-winning effort, expressed his joy over the team's consecutive victories and thanked the enthusiastic crowd for their support. "Winning back-to-back gold medals feels fantastic. Both teams played exceptionally well, and our second half was particularly strong. I appreciate everyone who came out to watch, as this is the first time such a large audience has gathered in Punjab," Mandeep stated.

Former captain of the Indian women's hockey team, Rani Rampal, attended the final and medal ceremony, highlighting the importance of hosting an international hockey event in Punjab and the local crowd's support. "Playing on home ground is incredibly special, especially in Punjab, which has produced numerous hockey players. It’s remarkable that an international tournament is being held here for the first time, and I’m grateful to have witnessed it. Many young fans were present, and it was heartwarming to see the players’ families in attendance. Japan put up a strong challenge, particularly in the first two quarters, but once India reverted to their traditional attacking style towards the end of the third quarter, the game opened up," Rani remarked.

Historical Context

Rani, who played 212 international matches and scored 134 goals, was the youngest member of the national squad at the 2010 World Cup at just 15 years old. India has now won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023, 2024, and 2026. Japan finished as runners-up for the third time, having previously lost in the finals in 2013 and 2021. Earlier in the day, Malaysia claimed the bronze medal with a 5-2 win over South Korea after coming back from a goal down.