The Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 held in Punjab, known as the birthplace of Indian hockey, created unforgettable memories for players and fans alike. Despite the seemingly effortless victories by Harmanpreet Singh and his team over the past week, the captain acknowledged that staying composed during the final against Japan was a significant challenge. India managed to secure a 4-1 win in Mohali on Thursday, overcoming an early setback.
With this triumph, India has now claimed the title in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023, 2024, and 2026, marking a streak of three consecutive victories. The absence of Pakistan, who withdrew after their request to relocate the tournament on ‘security grounds’ was denied, may have lessened the event’s excitement, but it did not undermine the Indian men’s team’s consistent performance, which followed their gold medal win at the Asian Games.
Captain Harmanpreet emphasized the team’s focus on maintaining concentration throughout the match. He remarked, “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. We knew that if we remained patient, we would deliver a strong performance.”
For Harmanpreet, this tournament was particularly meaningful as it was held in his home state. He noted that the team’s ability to score crucial goals in the final quarter was a result of their patience and composure. “It really comes down to how patiently you react to situations and how calm you remain. The whole team demonstrated that, and we certainly scored some excellent goals towards the end,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Indian captain faces a new challenge in the FIH Pro League scheduled for February 2027, where India will compete against renowned teams such as Germany, Argentina, Great Britain, and Spain in Odisha.
Mandeep Singh, a senior forward who began his hockey journey at the Surjeet Singh Academy in Jalandhar, expressed his joy over the team’s successful title defense and thanked the fans for their support, stating, “It feels great that we have won back-to-back gold medals. Both teams played very well, and our second half was excellent. I thank everyone who came here to watch the match because this is the first time such a large crowd has gathered for a hockey match in Punjab.”
The final also marked a significant milestone for Hardik, celebrating his 200th senior international match, receiving a special jersey from Punjab’s chief minister Bhagwant Mann before the game. Krishan Bahadur Pathak was honored as the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, while Harmanpreet garnered the Hero of the Tournament award, also becoming the top scorer with 10 goals, raising his senior international total to 250.
Rani Rampal, the former women’s captain and Olympian, attended the final and emphasized the importance of hosting an international hockey event in Punjab, commending the enthusiastic support from the local crowd. She remarked, “The feeling of playing on home soil is truly special, especially in a state like Punjab, which has contributed so many players to Indian hockey, particularly to the men’s team. It’s wonderful that an international tournament is being held in Punjab, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to witness it.”
Rani also noted the presence of young fans and the families of players in the stands. She observed, “Japan put up a strong fight against India. In the first two quarters, India wasn’t at its best, while Japan arrived well prepared. However, once India shifted to its traditional attacking style towards the end of the third quarter, the game opened up.”
