Asian Champions TrophyThe Indian men's hockey team has clinched the Asian Champions Trophy. In the final, India defeated Japan 4-1 to secure a record-extending sixth title. In the match held at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, the defending champions, India, delivered an outstanding performance to win the trophy for the third consecutive time.
In this match, Japan held a 1-0 lead until the second quarter. Japan had taken the lead in the third minute through a goal by Kazumasa Matsumoto, but from the third quarter onwards, India completely turned the match around.
Shilanand Lakra’s Brilliance
In the third quarter, Shilanand Lakra scored an equalizer, bringing the score to 1-1. India turned the tide in the fourth quarter; in the 48th minute, Dilpreet Singh scored a brilliant goal to give the team a 2-1 lead.
A few minutes later, Jugraj Singh scored the third goal from a penalty corner, and subsequently, Vivek Sagar Prasad netted the fourth with a powerful shot, extending the lead to 4-1. The score remained 4-1 until the final whistle, and with that, India clinched the tournament title without losing a single match.
Indian Team Remains Undefeated
India won all five of their matches in the league round of the Asian Champions Trophy. Subsequently, they defeated South Korea 8–1 in the semi-finals to secure a spot in the final. Japan challenged India in the final but could not stop the Indian team.
With this victory, India has maintained its dominance in the Asian Champions Trophy. Having previously won the tournament in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2024, India has now emerged as the champion once again in 2026.
Shilanand Named Player of the Match
Shilanand Lakra was hailed as the hero of the final. The player from Odisha has delivered remarkable performances throughout his career. He made his debut for the Indian team at the 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
He also overcame a serious knee injury to make a successful comeback. He was part of the team that won the 2025 Asia Cup and was also a member of the squad that clinched the gold medal at the Asian Games that same year.
