The player-of-the-tournament unleashes a controlled reverse hit in the 31st minute, which the Chinese defence and goalkeeper have no answer to
At the Rajgir Sports Complex here on Wednesday, the Indian women successfully defended the Asian Champions Trophy by defeating China 1-0 in the final, overcoming the disappointment of a lackluster semifinal performance and stepping up when it counted most.
The scoreline could suggest that it was a close game, and for the first half, it was, until the Indians, as in every game, changed tactics and seized the lead in the third quarter.
Furthermore, the host remained largely unshaken once the game proceeded, even though China deserved praise for not making things any easier for India. Deepika scored India’s only goal, finished first in the table with 11 goals, and received the player-of-the-tournament award.
India Battles Early Pressure, Struggles with Penalty Corners Against China
Lalremsiami, named player of the match, rushed out to block a penalty corner for China in the eighteenth minute, while Bichhu Devi went all out to clear the rebound with her stick.
India earned four rapid penalty corners in the 20th minute due to their relentless pressure, but the team’s dismal penalty corner performance continued, with off-target attempts, unsuccessful variations, and some excellent saves by the Chinese goalie.
The ball stayed in play, was dragged in, and then Deepika unleashed a controlled reverse hit that the Chinese defense and goalkeeper couldn’t stop. The injection missed the stop cleanly.
India’s Attack Stuns Despite Missed Opportunities and Wasted Penalty Stroke
Even when the Indian onslaught failed to produce a goal, it was still stunning. With her quick sprints and great ball control, Sangita Kumari was a pleasure, frequently making her way into the Chinese circle.
Vaishnavi Phalke had a busy day on the flanks, while Captain Salima Tete’s pace was unrivaled. Additionally, Sunelita Toppo was always excellent at all she performed, both forward and back. India remained on track to win despite a wasted penalty stroke. Deepika had earned the push by swerving past three defenders on her alone, and Ting Li easily saved it.
The outcomes: Final: China 0 vs. India 1 (Deepika 31).
Japan 4 (Mayuri Horikawa 3, Hiroka Murayama 24, Ayana Tamura 28, Miyu Hasegawa 35) defeated Malaysia 1 (Azmyra Azhairy 48) in the third-fourth place play-off.
Special recognition: Deepika (India) won Player of the Tournament; Yu Kudo (Japan) won Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
