India beat Japan 4-1 in Mohali to win record sixth Asian Champions Trophy title

India beat Japan 4-1 in the final of the men’s Asian Champions Trophy at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Thursday evening, claiming a record-extending sixth title. The hosts were 0-1 down at half-time before a four-goal second-half burst turned the match on its head. The win made India the first team to lift the trophy six times, stretching a record that was already theirs.

The India vs Japan final was tipped to be a one-sided affair given the hosts’ form. India arrived unbeaten, having won every match in the tournament, and were eyeing a successful defence of the crown they won in the previous edition. Japan, though, had other ideas, taking an early lead that stunned the home crowd and left Harmanpreet Singh’s men chasing the game for 30 uncomfortable minutes.

Four second-half goals flip the game

India were uncharacteristically disjointed in the first half. Japan defended deep, smothered space, and protected their lead with discipline. India’s forwards found little room, and the hosts went into the break trailing 0-1, their worst half of the tournament.

The second half was a different story. Shilanand Lakra struck the equaliser to set the comeback in motion. Dilpreet Singh then put India ahead, extending the lead to 2-1. Jugraj Singh made it 3-1, and Vivek Sagar Prasad completed the scoring with the fourth goal, sealing a 4-1 win. It was an irresistible second-half display, marked by the speed and skill that has become the hallmark of this Indian side.

Unbeaten all the way to the title

Thursday’s win meant India finished the tournament without a loss. Harmanpreet Singh’s side won every match en route to the final, and the 4-1 victory over Japan added the ultimate prize to a perfect campaign. It was also a successful title defence, with India holding on to the trophy they had lifted in the previous edition.

The result confirmed India’s place at the top of the Asian Champions Trophy’s history. India were already the most successful side in the competition with five titles before this final. The win over Japan took that tally to six, stretching their record and leaving the chasing pack further behind. The display was described as historic, a combination of speed, skill and tactical brilliance that overwhelmed Japan. Japan never found a second goal, and India controlled the closing stages.

Mohali’s night of celebration

The final was played at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior Hockey Stadium in Mohali, named after one of the greatest players in Indian hockey. The 7 pm IST start didn’t keep fans away; the stadium was packed, and the crowd’s mood swung from anxiety to euphoria as the goals flowed in the second half.

For those watching from elsewhere, the match was telecast live on Star Sports 2 and streamed on JioHotstar. Fans who stayed through the tense first half were rewarded with a second-half show that made the long wait worthwhile. Mohali, which had hosted the tournament’s biggest match, delivered a night to remember for Indian hockey.

A record title and what comes next

India’s sixth Asian Champions Trophy title extends their dominance of the competition and completes a successful defence. The manner of the victory, coming from behind against a compact opponent, showed the character of this side, and the margin of the win reflected the gulf between the teams once India hit their stride.

The India vs Japan rivalry has seen many close battles, but this final will be remembered for India’s commanding second-half performance. With the trophy safely back in Indian hands, the team’s focus will shift to upcoming international assignments, with an unbeaten run behind them to build on. The confidence from this comeback will not be easily forgotten.