Mohali (Punjab) [India], November 6 (ANI): India males’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh praised his crew’s composure and skill to stay to their plans all through the match after the hosts staged a comeback to defeat Japan 4-1 within the closing of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 on the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Thursday.
Harmanpreet mentioned the crew’s focus remained on executing their plans for the whole 60 minutes, regardless of the scoreline, and credited the gamers for sustaining their composure, significantly within the closing quarter.
‘Our goal and focus remained the identical: to remain centered for the whole 60 minutes. Regardless of the rating, we caught to the plan we got. We will certainly ship a robust efficiency. In the ultimate quarter, we managed to attain some good objectives. The end result was the identical, and it actually comes right down to how patiently you react to conditions and the way calm you stay. The complete crew demonstrated that, and we actually scored some wonderful objectives towards the tip,’ Harmanpreet instructed ANI after the match.
India prolonged their report to 6 Asian Champions Trophy titles and accomplished a hat-trick of consecutive triumphs, having additionally gained the event in 2023 and 2024. The defending champions completed their marketing campaign unbeaten, registering seven victories in as many matches.
Japan gave India an early scare when Kazumasa Matsumoto scored with a superb backhand within the third minute. The guests held on to their 1-0 benefit till half-time earlier than India turned the match round after the break.
Shilanand Lakra restored parity within the forty second minute by means of a penalty nook variation involving Harmanpreet. Dilpreet Singh then put India forward within the forty seventh minute earlier than Jugraj Singh transformed a strong drag-flick within the 52nd minute. Vivek Sagar Prasad accomplished the scoring a minute later to seal the 4-1 victory.
India ahead Mandeep Singh, who was a part of the title-winning marketing campaign, expressed his happiness on the crew’s back-to-back triumphs and thanked the spectators for turning up in giant numbers to assist the hosts.
‘It feels nice that we now have gained back-to-back gold medals. Both groups have been taking part in very effectively, and our second half went very effectively… I thank everybody who got here right here to look at the match, as a result of that is the primary time such a big crowd has gathered in Punjab,’ Mandeep mentioned.
Former India girls’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, who was current on the closing and the medal distribution ceremony, additionally spoke concerning the significance of internet hosting a world hockey event in Punjab and the assist from the native crowd.
‘The feeling of taking part in on dwelling floor is actually special-especially in a state like Punjab, which has contributed so many gamers to hockey, significantly to the lads’s recreation. It’s great that a world event is being held in Punjab for the primary time, and I’m glad I had the chance to witness it. Many younger youngsters have been additionally current, however maybe probably the most heartening side was seeing the gamers’ households within the stands. Japan put up a robust combat in opposition to India at present. In the primary two quarters, the Indian crew wasn’t fairly at its greatest, whereas Japan clearly arrived well-prepared. However, as soon as India shifted to its conventional, attacking fashion of play-which they started to implement in the direction of the tip of the third quarter-the recreation opened up,’ Rani mentioned.
Rani, who represented India in 212 worldwide matches and scored 134 objectives throughout her taking part in profession, was the youngest member of the nationwide squad on the 2010 World Cup, aged simply 15.
India have now gained the Asian Champions Trophy in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023, 2024 and 2026. Japan, in the meantime, completed runners-up for the third time, having additionally misplaced the finals in 2013 and 2021.
Earlier within the day, Malaysia secured the bronze medal with a 5-2 victory over South Korea after getting back from a purpose down. (ANI)