Defending champions India continued their impressive campaign at the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, defeating China 5-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium on Thursday. With this victory, the Indian men’s hockey team registered its second consecutive win to remain among the leading contenders in the tournament.
Forward Sukhjeet Singh and captain Harmanpreet Singh delivered outstanding performances, scoring two goals each, while Jugraj Singh added another to seal India’s comprehensive victory. Sukhjeet was named Player of the Match for his influential contribution.
India opened the scoring in the 12th minute through a spectacular individual effort from Sukhjeet. Receiving a long aerial pass from Jugraj Singh, he controlled the ball brilliantly before lifting it over the advancing Chinese goalkeeper Wu Huanyu from a difficult angle.
China threatened India’s advantage, but goalkeeper Suraj Karkera produced two crucial saves in the 14th minute to maintain the lead.
The visitors, however, remained disciplined defensively and managed to draw level in the 26th minute through Yang Peng’s penalty-corner conversion. India responded immediately, with captain Harmanpreet Singh unleashing a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner to restore the advantage.
India went into half-time leading 2-1 after negotiating China’s compact defensive structure and persistent pressure.
The hosts raised the tempo after the interval. Harmanpreet struck again in the 31st minute, converting another penalty corner to extend India’s lead to 3-1. Sukhjeet then completed his brace in the 34th minute, finishing clinically after Aditya Arjun Lalage controlled Harmanpreet’s aerial pass and delivered a precise cut-back.
China refused to surrender and reduced the deficit to 4-2 through Chen Chongcong’s penalty-corner conversion in the 36th minute. The visitors showed periods of attacking intent, but India’s experience and composure ensured they remained in control.
In the final quarter, Jugraj Singh put the result beyond doubt with a crisp penalty-corner flick in the 47th minute, taking India’s tally to five goals. Harmanpreet came close to completing a hat-trick late in the match, but Chinese goalkeeper Wu Huanyu produced an impressive save to deny the Indian captain.
The victory further strengthened India’s position in the competition. Earlier, Malaysia defeated South Korea 3-1, while Japan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Bangladesh.
India now have six points from two matches, with an impressive goal difference of +16. Malaysia and Japan also have six points each, occupying the second and third positions respectively.
India will next face Japan on Friday, 30 October, at 7 pm IST at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium. The six participating teams are competing in a single round-robin league, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
The league stage will continue in Jalandhar until 2 November, before the tournament shifts to Mohali for the semi-finals on 4 November and the final and third-place match on 5 November.
With two consecutive victories, the defending champions have made a strong statement in their title defence, but the upcoming contest against Japan will provide another important test of India’s consistency and championship ambitions.
