The victory made India the most successful team in the tournament's history with a record five titles. India also became the only team to win the title five times, having retained the trophy for the second consecutive edition after their triumph in 2023. India had previously clinched back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2018.
To reward the team's efforts, Hockey India announced a cash prize of INR 3 lakh for each player and INR 1.5 lakh for each support staff member.
In the final, both teams struggled to find their rhythm from the start, with India's Vivek Sagar Prasad creating the first big chance when he slipped into the circle and set up Sukhjeet, whose audacious shot between his legs forced a quick save from the goalkeeper. Chinese Wang Weihao. India applied constant pressure in the first quarter, looking for opportunities, while China adopted a half-court press to counterattack when India's defense was exposed.
India's forward line, which included Rajkumar, Sukhjeet, Nilakanta and Raheel, constantly tested the Chinese defense while captain Harmanpreet Singh narrowly missed a penalty corner shot. China responded with a penalty corner, but Krishan Pathak was smart to deny Jiesheng Gao's attempt.
In the second quarter, India slowed down the pace of the game, looking for spaces in China's tight defence. Sukhjeet earned another penalty corner at the end of the half, but Harmanpreet's shot deflected off the post. China's Benhai Chen then launched a counterattack, but Jugraj Singh made a crucial sliding tackle, keeping the score 0-0 at half-time.
The third quarter brought greater intensity from India, but China's defense remained firm. Harmanpreet's passes found Abhishek on multiple occasions but he struggled to convert. China earned two penalty corners midway through the quarter, but Pathak's reflexes kept the score level. China ended the quarter putting pressure on the Indian defense but India held firm.
China's Changliang Lin made a couple of dangerous runs early in the fourth quarter, but India soon took control. India's persistence paid off when, as time ran out, Harmanpreet found Jugraj in the circle and deftly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to give India the crucial lead.
With the support of the partisan public, China responded by pushing forward in search of a tie, leading to a wire-to-wire finish. However, India maintained their composure, controlled possession and capitalized on the clock to secure a 1-0 victory and their fifth Hero Asian Champions Trophy title.
Award winners:
Player of the Tournament - Harmanpreet Singh - India
Top scorer of the tournament - Yang Jihun (9 goals) - Korea
Promising Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Kim Jaehan - Korea
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Wang Caiyu - China
Rising star of the tournament - Hanan Shahid - Pakistan
To reward the team's efforts, Hockey India announced a cash prize of INR 3 lakh for each player and INR 1.5 lakh for each support staff member.
In the final, both teams struggled to find their rhythm from the start, with India's Vivek Sagar Prasad creating the first big chance when he slipped into the circle and set up Sukhjeet, whose audacious shot between his legs forced a quick save from the goalkeeper. Chinese Wang Weihao. India applied constant pressure in the first quarter, looking for opportunities, while China adopted a half-court press to counterattack when India's defense was exposed.
India's forward line, which included Rajkumar, Sukhjeet, Nilakanta and Raheel, constantly tested the Chinese defense while captain Harmanpreet Singh narrowly missed a penalty corner shot. China responded with a penalty corner, but Krishan Pathak was smart to deny Jiesheng Gao's attempt.
In the second quarter, India slowed down the pace of the game, looking for spaces in China's tight defence. Sukhjeet earned another penalty corner at the end of the half, but Harmanpreet's shot deflected off the post. China's Benhai Chen then launched a counterattack, but Jugraj Singh made a crucial sliding tackle, keeping the score 0-0 at half-time.
The third quarter brought greater intensity from India, but China's defense remained firm. Harmanpreet's passes found Abhishek on multiple occasions but he struggled to convert. China earned two penalty corners midway through the quarter, but Pathak's reflexes kept the score level. China ended the quarter putting pressure on the Indian defense but India held firm.
China's Changliang Lin made a couple of dangerous runs early in the fourth quarter, but India soon took control. India's persistence paid off when, as time ran out, Harmanpreet found Jugraj in the circle and deftly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to give India the crucial lead.
With the support of the partisan public, China responded by pushing forward in search of a tie, leading to a wire-to-wire finish. However, India maintained their composure, controlled possession and capitalized on the clock to secure a 1-0 victory and their fifth Hero Asian Champions Trophy title.
Award winners:
Player of the Tournament - Harmanpreet Singh - India
Top scorer of the tournament - Yang Jihun (9 goals) - Korea
Promising Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Kim Jaehan - Korea
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament - Wang Caiyu - China
Rising star of the tournament - Hanan Shahid - Pakistan
