India are Asian champions again, and this time the win came with a record attached. The men’s hockey team beat Japan 4-1 in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 at Mohali on Thursday, lifting the title for a record sixth time and completing a hat-trick of consecutive triumphs after their wins in 2023 and 2024.
It was not the smooth ride the scoreline suggests. Japan stunned the packed stadium in the third minute, and India had to wait until the second half to turn the match around. Once the goals started coming, though, they came in a rush: four in 11 minutes.
Japan strike first, India answer after the break
Kazumasa Matsumoto gave Japan the lead with a sharp backhand finish in the third minute, and the visitors defended that advantage all the way to half-time. India pressed and created penalty corners, but the equaliser would not come in the first two quarters.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 42nd minute. Shilanand Lakra finished off a penalty corner variation involving captain Harmanpreet Singh to make it 1-1, and the stadium found its voice. Five minutes later Dilpreet Singh put India ahead, and the final swung decisively.
Jugraj Singh converted a powerful drag-flick in the 52nd minute to make it 3-1, and Vivek Sagar Prasad completed the scoring a minute later. From 1-0 down at half-time to 4-1 at full time, India had scored four goals in 11 minutes.
Lakra, the unlikely hero of the final
Shilanand Lakra, the Odisha forward, was named Man of the Match for the final, and it was easy to see why. His 42nd-minute equaliser changed the mood of the game completely. Until that goal, Japan’s early strike had hung over India, and the defending champions were in danger of chasing the match for far too long.
Lakra’s finish came from a set-piece routine India had worked on with Harmanpreet, and it opened the door for everything that followed. The goal also capped a fine tournament for the forward, who has grown into a reliable option in India’s attack.
A hat-trick of titles, and a perfect campaign
The win extends India’s record at the Asian Champions Trophy. India have now won the tournament in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023, 2024 and 2026, more than any other team. No side has ever won three editions in a row before India completed the hat-trick in Mohali.
Just as impressive was the way the title was won. The defending champions finished the campaign unbeaten, registering seven victories in as many matches. Japan, meanwhile, finished as runners-up for the third time, having also lost the finals in 2013 and 2021.
Earlier on Thursday, Malaysia secured the bronze medal with a 5-2 victory over South Korea, coming back from a goal down to take third place.
Harmanpreet: we stuck to the plan for 60 minutes
Captain Harmanpreet Singh praised his team’s composure after the match, saying the focus never wavered even when Japan held the lead at half-time. “Our target and focus remained the same: to stay focused for the entire 60 minutes. Regardless of the score, we stuck to the plan we were given,” he told ANI after the final.
“In the final quarter, we managed to score some good goals. It really comes down to how patiently you react to situations and how calm you remain. The whole team demonstrated that,” the captain added.
Forward Mandeep Singh thanked the spectators for turning up in large numbers. “It feels great that we have won back-to-back gold medals. Both teams were playing very well, and our second half went very well,” he said.
A special night for Punjab hockey
The final carried extra meaning because it was played in Punjab, a state that has supplied Indian hockey with generations of players. Former India women’s captain Rani Rampal, who was present at the final and the medal ceremony, spoke about what hosting an international tournament in Punjab meant.
“The feeling of playing on home ground is truly special, especially in a state like Punjab, which has contributed so many players to hockey, particularly to the men’s game. It is wonderful that an international tournament is being held in Punjab for the first time,” Rani said.
FAQs
What was the score in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 final?
India beat Japan 4-1 in the final at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Who scored for India in the final?
Shilanand Lakra (42nd minute), Dilpreet Singh (47th), Jugraj Singh (52nd) and Vivek Sagar Prasad (53rd) scored for India. Kazumasa Matsumoto scored Japan’s goal in the third minute.
How many Asian Champions Trophy titles has India won?
Six, a record. India won the title in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023, 2024 and 2026. The 2026 win completed a hat-trick of consecutive titles.
Who was the Man of the Match in the final?
Shilanand Lakra, whose 42nd-minute equaliser turned the match in India’s favour.
Who won the bronze medal?
Malaysia beat South Korea 5-2 earlier on Thursday to finish third.
India’s hockey team will head into its next assignments with a sixth Asian Champions Trophy in the cabinet and a perfect record from this tournament. For a team that had to wait 39 minutes to score in the final, the ending was emphatic: four goals, one record, and a hat-trick of titles.
