India beat Japan 4-1 to win sixth Asian Champions Trophy title
The Indian men's hockey team successfully defended their title in Mohali with goals from Shilanand, Dilpreet, Jugraj and Vivek.
The Indian men's hockey team secured their sixth Asian Champions Trophy title by defeating Japan 4-1 in the final at Mohali on Thursday. According to reports from Sportstar and India Today, the victory allows India to successfully defend the title and marks their third consecutive championship win.
Japan took an early lead in the fourth minute of the first quarter with a reverse hit to make it 1-0. India struggled to find connection in the first two quarters, and the score remained 1-0 at half time.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter when Shilanand Lakra scored in the 42nd minute to level the match at 1-1. Dilpreet Singh then gave India the lead in the 49th minute with a reverse hit following an assist from Hardik Singh.
India extended their advantage in the 53rd minute when Jugraj Singh scored from a penalty corner. Vivek Sagar Prasad added a fourth goal in the 54th minute with a volley after Nilakanta Sharma regained possession.
The win follows a tournament where Craig Fulton's side remained unbeaten, including an 8-1 semifinal victory over South Korea. This title comes after India also secured the Asian Games gold.