GUWAHATI: Indian Women's Hockey team claimed their third Asian Champions Trophy title on Wednesday evening, defeating China 1-0 in a tightly contested final.
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Deepika's brilliant strike secured the win, cementing India's position as joint record-holders alongside South Korea, each with three titles in the competition's history.
India's performance in the tournament was impeccable, maintaining six clean sheets in seven games. Deepika, the tournament's standout performer, netted her 11th goal in seven matches to once again be the difference-maker for her team.
The first half saw India dominate possession and create chances, particularly through penalty corners, but they failed to find the back of the net. The breakthrough came in the third quarter when Sushila Chanu misplayed a penalty corner injection. Despite the mishap, India maintained pressure, and Deepika capitalised on a loose ball in the circle. She waited patiently before unleashing a powerful tomahawk shot into the far corner, beating China's goalkeeper Li Ting.
India had an opportunity to extend their lead shortly after when Deepika earned a penalty stroke following a foul inside the circle. However, her low shot was denied by an outstanding save from Li Ting, who stretched to her right to deflect the ball. A subsequent penalty corner was also wasted due to another mistrap by Sushila.
Defensively, India showcased exceptional discipline. They did not concede a single penalty corner in the second half, and China's only notable chance was thwarted by goalkeeper Bichu Devi, who shared responsibilities throughout the tournament with Savita Punia.
This victory marks India's second consecutive Women's Asian Champions Trophy title, having won the previous edition in Ranchi last year. The triumph reflects the growth of the team under coach Harendra Singh, who sees this as a stepping stone toward building a formidable side for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India's performance has ignited hope for further dominance in Asian hockey and beyond, with their sights firmly set on global achievements in the coming years.