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The Indian men's hockey team, having faced little competition in Asia in recent years, once again proved their dominance at the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy. The team, which has been a consistent force in recent Olympic Games, breezed past all opposition at the tournament. Their triumph came just a month after securing a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where they overwhelmed their opponents with significant margins. Despite not fielding their full strength squad in Hulunbuir, China, India successfully defended their Asian Champions Trophy title, claiming victory for the fifth time in eight editions.
This victory, however, wasn't achieved without a struggle. China, the lowest-ranked team in the competition, put up a valiant fight, forcing India to go 51 minutes without scoring a goal – a first for the tournament. It was only in the fourth quarter that defender Jugraj Singh finally broke the deadlock, securing a 1-0 victory for India. China, despite their lower ranking, had gradually improved throughout the tournament, overcoming Malaysia, Japan, and Pakistan to reach their second-ever international hockey final, after losing to South Korea in the 2006 Asian Games summit clash.
The final matchup was a clash between the tournament's highest and lowest-ranked teams, played out amidst a fervent home crowd at the packed Moqi Training Base. Though India dominated possession, holding a commanding 84% share at halftime, they were unable to penetrate China's resilient defense. The Chinese team effectively man-marked all Indian forwards inside the striking circle, transitioning to a zonal approach the moment they stepped out of the D. Their goalkeeper, Wang Weihao, was instrumental in their defense, not only stopping four of Harmanpreet's drag-flicks but also thwarting numerous attempts from the Indian forward line led by Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh.
As the game progressed, China's midfield and strikers grew increasingly confident, realizing their ability to not only defend effectively but also to press the Indian defense and launch attacks. They earned five penalty corners, one more than India. However, their execution of short corners lacked quality, with poor injections and powerless flicks making it easy for Indian goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera to defend. While India maintained possession, the lack of goals caused frustration on the sidelines for chief coach Craig Fulton. Yet, Harmanpreet and his team remained confident that their opportunity would arise.
And it did, in the most unexpected way. The winning goal was not scored from a penalty corner, but rather a beautifully constructed field goal, orchestrated by two defenders and drag-flickers. With only nine minutes remaining, Harmanpreet, the Player of the Tournament and normally deployed as a center or right back, made a strategic move. He switched to the left flank during a long corner, skillfully weaving through three Chinese defenders before passing the ball to Jugraj who, at the goalmouth, simply had to push the ball past Weihao.
The previously vociferous crowd fell silent as the game drew to a close. China's coach, Yu Seung-jin, decided to substitute their goalkeeper for an extra field player with less than five minutes remaining. China managed a couple of circle entries in the final minutes, but the experienced Indian defense held firm, preserving their lead to start their new Olympic cycle with a triumphant title win. India's chief coach, Craig Fulton, acknowledged the tough battle, praising the team's resilience in securing victory. The victory marked the end of a challenging period for the team, following their performance in the Paris Olympics and a short break.
The win was a testament to the team's character and their ability to overcome adversity, especially with a young squad and new players. Hockey India celebrated the victory by awarding a cash prize of ₹3 lakh to each player and ₹1.5 lakh to each support staff member. In the third-place playoff, Pakistan emerged victorious, defeating South Korea 5-2.
The tournament also saw the nomination of two Indian players for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2024: defender Harmanpreet, named Player of the Tournament, for the men's Player of the Year award, and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris Olympics, for the men's Goalkeeper of the Year award.