Mohali, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Defending champions India produced a stirring comeback to defeat Japan 4-1 in the final and lift their record-extending sixth Asian Champions Trophy title at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Thursday.
The victory also completed India’s hat-trick of consecutive titles, following their triumphs in 2023 and 2024. The hosts finished the tournament unbeaten, winning all seven matches to underline their dominance.
Japan took an early lead through Kazumasa Matsumoto, who scored with a superb backhander in the third minute. The visitors held on to their 1-0 advantage until half-time, putting India under pressure in the title clash.
India came back strongly after the break, with Shilanand Lakra restoring parity in the 42nd minute through a penalty-corner variation involving captain Harmanpreet Singh.
The hosts took control in the final quarter. Dilpreet Singh put India ahead in the 47th minute before Jugraj Singh extended the lead with a powerful drag-flick in the 52nd minute. Vivek Sagar Prasad then struck in the 53rd minute to complete the 4-1 victory.
India had also beaten Japan 4-1 in the league stage in Jalandhar. The latest triumph adds to their previous Asian Champions Trophy titles won in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023 and 2024.
Japan, meanwhile, remain without a title after finishing runners-up for the third time, having previously lost the finals in 2013 and 2021.
Harmanpreet led the Indian side through an unbeaten campaign, with important contributions from Hardik Singh, Amit Rohidas, Lakra and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak.
Malaysia Claim Bronze with 5-2 Win over South Korea
Malaysia secured the bronze medal with a 5-2 victory over South Korea after overturning an early deficit.
Fitri Saari gave Malaysia the lead in the second minute, but South Korea responded through Park Geun Woo’s penalty corner in the fifth minute. Chun Semin put the Koreans ahead in the 13th minute.
Veteran forward Faizal Saari equalised for Malaysia with a penalty-corner conversion in the 34th minute. Abu Kamal Azrai then scored twice, in the 45th and 50th minutes, to give Malaysia a 4-2 advantage. He was named Man of the Match.
Captain Marhan Jalil added the fifth goal through a penalty corner in the 58th minute to seal the win for the Speedy Tigers.
The final and bronze-medal matches were played before a packed crowd in Mohali, which hosted the tournament’s knockout stage. The league matches were held at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
FOLLOW NOW
