India women beat China 1-0 to clinch record third Asian Championship title

India’s women’s hockey team triumphed 1-0 over China to win their third Asian Champions Trophy title on November 20 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. This victory, which followed India’s titles in 2016 and 2023, marked a historic achievement, tying India with South Korea for the most titles in the tournament’s history. The match saw a standout performance from Deepika, who scored the only goal of the match, bringing her tally to 11 goals and earning her the title of tournament top scorer.

The final was a closely contested battle between two skilled teams, with both sides creating opportunities but unable to break through in the first two quarters. India, starting with high intensity, earned several penalty corners in the second quarter but failed to convert them. China had the first chance to score with a penalty corner in the 19th minute, but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam made a spectacular diving save to deny Jinzhuang Tan’s attempt. India’s defense kept China at bay, despite their pressure, and China’s second penalty corner in the 23rd minute was successfully defended by the first rusher.

In the 31st minute, Deepika converted a penalty corner into a reverse-hit goal, giving India a 1-0 lead. Although China had several chances to equalize, including a penalty stroke awarded to India for a deliberate foul inside the circle in the 42nd minute, Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting made a remarkable reflex save. Ting’s crucial stops included saving a shot from Sushila Chanu during India’s sixth penalty corner attempt. Despite a few penetrations into India’s defensive circle, the Indian team held firm, ensuring a clean sheet and securing the victory.

Earlier in the day, Japan secured third place with a commanding 4-1 victory over Malaysia. This was China’s third runner-up finish in the history of the Asian Champions Trophy, after finishing second in 2013 and 2018. India’s 1-0 win not only gave them their third title but also underscored their dominance in women’s Asian hockey, as they retained the championship on home soil. The team’s solid performance in all areas—defense, midfield control, and goal-scoring—ensured they emerged as champions in a tightly contested final.