New Delhi: Over the past few years, the Indian men’s hockey team has firmly established its dominance in Asian hockey competitions.

Harmanpreet Singh and his squad have been unstoppable, clinching medals in the last two Olympics and sweeping aside all opposition at the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy. Just a month later, they showcased their prowess again at the Hangzhou Asian Games, obliterating every team they faced to secure the gold medal with commanding performances.

In the Chinese city of Hulunbuir, despite not being at full strength, India successfully defended their Asian Champions Trophy title for the fifth time in eight editions. This victory, however, was not without its challenges. China, the lowest-ranked team in the six-team competition at world No.23, pushed India to their limits. For 51 grueling minutes, India could not find the back of the net – an unprecedented scenario leading up to the final. It was only in the fourth quarter that defender Jugraj Singh broke the deadlock, scoring the decisive goal to secure a 1-0 win.

China’s journey to the final was a tale of resilience and growth. Despite a rocky start that included losing three round-robin games, one of which was a 0-3 defeat to India, they improved significantly as the tournament progressed. The hosts defeated Malaysia, Japan, and Pakistan to reach their second-ever final in international hockey since the 2006 Asian Games where they were bested by South Korea.

Backed by a fervent home crowd at the packed Moqi Training Base, China’s spirited team showcased unity and tenacity. They attacked and defended cohesively, giving the highest-ranked team a tough fight. Despite India controlling 84% of possession by halftime, they struggled to penetrate China’s solid defense. The Chinese defenders closely marked Indian forwards and swiftly switched to a zonal defense whenever India advanced beyond the D.

China’s goalkeeper Wang Weihao delivered an outstanding performance, denying four of Harmanpreet’s drag-flicks and multiple attempts from India’s forward line led by Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh. As the match wore on, China’s midfield and strikers grew in confidence, pressing India’s defense and earning five penalty corners – one more than India.

However, their lack of finesse in executing short corners was evident. Poor injections and weak flicks made it easy for Indian goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera to defend against these attempts. India’s chief coach Craig Fulton expressed his frustration from the sidelines due to the lack of goals despite dominating possession. Nevertheless, Harmanpreet and his team remained patient and confident that their moment would come.

That moment arrived from an unexpected source. With only nine minutes remaining, Player of the Tournament Harmanpreet Singh made an unconventional move. Switching from his usual position to the left flank during a long corner, he skillfully maneuvered past three Chinese defenders and passed the ball to Jugraj Singh, who easily pushed it past Weihao to score.

As the match neared its conclusion, the once-vociferous crowd fell silent. In a last-ditch effort, China’s coach Yu Seung-jin substituted their goalkeeper for an extra field player with under five minutes remaining. Despite managing a couple of circle entries in those final moments, India’s experienced defense held firm, securing their lead and beginning their new Olympic cycle with a triumphant title win.

Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, India’s chief coach Craig Fulton said, “It was a tough match for us but a good one in the end. We had to work hard and it was a real fight. Seven games of good hockey but we couldn’t score tonight until that crucial moment. This victory marks a great start to our journey.”

Adding to their celebrations, Hockey India announced a cash prize of ₹3 lakh for each player and ₹1.5 lakh for each support staff member. Meanwhile, Pakistan secured third place by defeating South Korea 5-2.

In other news, defender Harmanpreet Singh and retired goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have been nominated for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2024. Harmanpreet is in contention for the men’s Player of the Year award, while Sreejesh has been nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year, highlighting their exceptional contributions to Indian hockey.