India retain Asian Champions Trophy with 4-1 win over Japan

India celebrated another Asian Champions Trophy triumph on Thursday defeating Japan 4-1 in the final at the Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. A packed stadium erupted in celebration as thousands of spectators cheered the home team to victory.

The win allowed India to retain the title and brought the curtain down on a tournament that combined international hockey with a display of Punjab’s sporting and cultural traditions.

Earlier, Malaysia beat South Korea in an entertaining match to secure third place.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann congratulated the Indian team on its victory. Mann met players from both teams before presenting gold medals to the Indian players.

There was another reason to celebrate during the evening. Indian midfielder Hardik Singh completed 200 international appearances, marking an important milestone in his career. Governor Kataria and the Chief Minister presented him with a special jersey to recognise the achievement.
The closing ceremony reflected Punjab vibrant cultural heritage. Traditional Gatka and Bhangra performances brought colour and energy to the celebrations, with Bhangra receiving an enthusiastic response from the spectators.

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath praised the Punjab government and Chief Minister Mann for the arrangements and successful conduct of the tournament.
Addressing the gathering, Mann said Punjab was preparing to host the Hockey World Cup in 2030. He described the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 as a significant milestone and said the successful organisation of the event had demonstrated the state’s ability to host major international sporting competitions.

The Chief Minister said Punjab’s relationship with hockey went beyond sporting achievements. Generations of players from the state had helped shape India’s hockey history making the game an integral part of its sporting identity.

He said Punjab had produced 77 hockey Olympians between the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Of these, 48 had won Olympic medals.

Recalling the contribution of the state’s hockey legends, Mann named Balbir Singh Senior, Udham Singh, Prithipal Singh, Ajit Pal Singh and Surjit Singh. He also referred to contemporary players, including Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh, who continue to represent Punjab’s strong presence in Indian hockey.

He said players from Punjab had captained the Indian hockey team at the Olympic Games on 10 occasions. Eight players from the state represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while nine were part of the squad at the Paris 2024 Games.

Mann also highlighted the contribution of Jalandhar and its surrounding villages to Indian hockey. Places such as Sansarpur, Khusropur and Mithapur have produced generations of players and collectively account for more than 20 Olympians.

The Chief Minister said the government was also focusing on developing sports infrastructure to give young players better opportunities. Six new hockey astroturf grounds had been constructed during its tenure, while work on two more was under way. In addition, 18 six-a-side astroturf grounds had been established to encourage hockey at the grassroots level.

He said the government had introduced a new sports policy in 2023 and allocated ₹1,744 crore exclusively for sports development. The investment, he said, was aimed at providing young athletes with better facilities, professional coaching and financial support.

Mann also underlined the economic benefits of hosting international sporting events. Such tournaments, he said, could bring more visitors to Punjab and create opportunities for the tourism, hospitality and sports goods industries.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister shared his experience of attending the final and praised the cultural performances that brought Punjab’s traditions to the stadium. He congratulated the organisers and expressed confidence in the Indian team.

The concluding ceremony was attended by Principal Secretary Sports Varun Rujam, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath and Hockey Punjab President Nitin Kohli, among others.

For Punjab, the tournament was an opportunity to showcase more than its ability to organise an international sporting event. It also brought the state’s deep-rooted connection with hockey into the spotlight. With the Hockey World Cup 2030 now an ambition, the successful hosting of the Asian Champions Trophy has given fresh momentum to that goal.