India defend Asian Champions Trophy in style following 1-0 win against Olympic silver medalists China in Rajgir

The Indian women's hockey team defended their Asian Champions Trophy title in style with a 1-0 win against Olympic silver medalists China in Ragir, Bihar, on Wednesday (November 20).

Deepika scored the winner for India early in the third quarter after managing to direct a penalty corner rebound past the Chinese goalkeeper following an intense but barren opening half.

Deepika also finished as the highest scorer of the Asian Champions Trophy competition with an overall tally of 11 goals despite missing a penalty stroke in the third quarter of the final against China.

A fast and intense opening 10 minutes witnessed both teams getting a measure of the other, with the Chinese enjoying the better of the exchanges upfield. The speedy Indian strikers were unable to penetrate the Chinese deep defense who held their structure admirably.

The Olympic silver medalists earned the first penalty corner of the match in the 18th minute, with Bichu Devi pulling off a stunning save at full stretch.

Deng Quichan picked up a five-minute yellow card a minute later while the Indians also earned their opening penalty corner and a couple of re-awards. Deepika was on target a couple of times but the Chinese defense thwarted her powerful attempts.

Both teams earned another penalty corner apiece in the space of five minutes without success. Sharmila Devi had a chance to take a shot on goal, picking up on a probing pass from Salima Tete in the 26th minute but her effort sailed past the goalpost.

The Indians manufactured a penalty corner immediately after the long breather. A sloppy stop prevented a direct drag-flick from being taken but Deepika pounced on a rebound to direct a powerful tomahawk into the back of the net.

The 31st-minute goal inspired the Indians even as Sangita Kumari tried a reverse from a difficult angle, rattling the Chinese defense but failing to extend the lead in the 39th minute.

A penalty stroke was awarded to India for a deliberate push on an advancing Deepika in the 42nd minute. Deepika opted to take the penalty stroke herself but Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting silenced the crowd with a brilliant reflex save.

A scorching run from Sangita Kumari led to a penalty corner for India in the 47th minute. Wu Surong refused to allow the hosts to extend the lead following a shot on target off a rebound.

India register third win at the Asian Champions Trophy

India won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and 2023 - Source: Hockey India

The Indians finished third in the inaugural edition of the Asian Champions Trophy, which was held in Korea in 2010, with the hosts emerging victorious.

Failure to finish on the podium a year later was made up for by a silver-medal-winning performance in the third edition in Kakamihahara, Japan. India went on to win the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy in Singapore.

A couple of weeks after Sjoerd Marijne rejoined the girls' camp in May 2018, the Indians finished as runners-up at Donghae. A disappointing fifth-place finish in 2021 was followed by a tournament win in Ranchi 2023.

The win last year close on the heels of India's failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics dampened the celebrations, unlike the magnificent triumph in Rajgir.