Moqi [China], September 17 (ANI): Craig Fulton, the chief coach of the Indian hockey team, lauded the young Indian squad for their impressive performance in retaining the Asian Champions Trophy. Despite the unbeaten streak in the tournament, Fulton acknowledged that the journey was challenging for the relatively inexperienced team.

Harmanpreet Singh, who captained India to a bronze medal in Paris, earned the title of Hero of the Tournament. His contributions were pivotal, scoring at critical moments and setting up the decisive goal in the final match.

Fulton expressed his satisfaction with the team’s hard-fought victory, saying, “It was tough for us, but ultimately a good outcome. We had to work hard throughout, and it was a fierce battle. Over seven games, we played some excellent hockey, but struggled to score in the final. Nonetheless, we achieved the result we needed.”

Reflecting on the journey, Fulton added, “It’s been a roller-coaster ride, from our experience in Paris to just eight days with family before coming here. With a young squad and several new players, the boys were exhausted, but they found a way to prevail. That’s always the mark of a good team.”

He emphasized that this team has significant potential for future success, stating that there is enough talent to build a strong unit moving forward.

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh shared his excitement about the victory, highlighting that it demonstrated the readiness of the next generation to shoulder responsibility as India gears up for bigger challenges ahead.

India’s impressive results in the Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament are as follows:

**Match 1:** India triumphed over China with a 3-0 victory. Goals were scored by Sukhjeet Singh (14′), Uttam Singh (27′), and Abhishek (32′).

**Match 2:** India dominated Japan with a 5-1 win. Sukhjeet Singh (2′, 60′), Abhishek (2′), Sanjay (17′), and Uttam Singh (54′) scored for India, while Matsumoto Kazumasa (41′) netted for Japan.

**Match 3:** India overwhelmed Malaysia with an 8-1 scoreline. Raj Kumar Pal (3′, 25′, 33′), Araijeet Singh Hundal (6′, 39′), Jugraj Singh (7′), Harmanpreet Singh (22′), and Uttam Singh (40′) scored for India; Akhimullah Anuar (11′) scored for Malaysia.

**Match 4:** India defeated South Korea 3-1. Harmanpreet Singh (9′, 43′) and Araijeet Singh Hundal (8′) scored for India, while Jihun Yang (30′) scored for South Korea.

**Match 5:** India edged out Pakistan with a 2-1 victory. Harmanpreet Singh (13′, 19′) scored both goals for India, while Ahmad Nadeem (8′) scored for Pakistan.

**Semi-final:** India secured a spot in the final by beating South Korea 4-1. Harmanpreet Singh (19′, 45′), Uttam Singh (13′), and Jarmanpreet Singh (32′) scored for India; Yang Ji-Hun (33′) netted for South Korea.

**Final:** In a closely contested final, India emerged victorious with a 1-0 win against China, thanks to Jugraj Singh’s goal in the 51st minute.