2024-10-02 15:28:29
New Delhi: The Indian hockey team may have won the Asian Champions Trophy title by remaining undefeated, but head coach Craig Fulton believes that it was not an easy tournament for his young team. The Indian team, playing its first tournament after winning the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics, won all the matches in the Asian Champions Trophy and defeated China 1-0 in the final. This was the fifth ACT title for the Indian team, which had also won the title last time. Fulton said after the final, ‘It was difficult for us. But it was good to win in the end. We will have to work very hard. We played good hockey in seven matches. Couldn’t score many goals today but the result was in our favor. He said that the last two months were full of ups and downs for him and the team. He said, ‘There were a lot of ups and downs. Paris Olympics and then preparation for this tournament after spending just eight days with the family. We came here with a young team and some new players. The players were tired but still won, which is a sign of a good team.
Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Mask on face, Chinese flag in hand… Pakistani hockey team arrived to support China against India.
Tough competition from China in the final
The Indian hockey team faced a tough competition from host China in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy. China did not allow the Indian strikers to score in the first three quarters of the match. During this period, Team India also created many chances, but the Chinese defenders showed great courage and foiled all the attempts. However, in the 51st minute of the match, Jugraj Raj Singh gave Team India the lead by scoring a goal.
India entered China and took out China’s arrogance, trampled it and became Asian Champions Trophy champion for the 5th time
After this, Indian players did not give any chance to China in the remaining time. In such a situation, as soon as the hooter rang for the end of the time, the Indian team won the Champions Trophy title for the record fifth time. In this way, China stood second and won the silver medal.