India defend Asian Champions Trophy title with a 1-0 win over China, with Deepika on fire
India's women's hockey team successfully defended its Asian Champions Trophy title after a thrilling 1-0 victory over China in the final. It was 20-year-old forward Deepika from Hisar, who played the hero, scoring the only goal of the match to seal India's second successive title. Deepika performed like nothing less than a fairy godmother as she scored her 11th goal of the tournament, earning her the sobriquet of 'Goal Queen'.
It was a closely contested match played at the Rajgir Sports Complex; the first half saw no goals coming into either net. India struggled early on against China's defensive solidity but got their rhythm in place after the break. In the very first minute of the third quarter, Deepika made the most of a well-placed penalty corner, taking her time to slot the ball into the bottom right corner past the Chinese goalkeeper. This was Deepika's 11th strike. This included four field goals, six penalty corner goals, and one penalty stroke.
Though Deepika missed a penalty stroke later in the third quarter, her earlier goal was enough to take home the game for India. Coach Harendra Singh praised her for her composure and for leading the team to a well-deserved win. Deepika emerged as Player of the Tournament and the highest goal scorer, making it a memorable conclusion as one of the standout players of the event.
The match was not without challenge even though India dominated the final. China dominated early stages of the game, and India's defense led by Bichu Devi Kharibam stood firm there. They made critical saves in the decisive spells of the match. In addition, India enjoyed superior fitness, aiding them to manage the later stages of the game.
Indian women's hockey coach in his second term under Coach Harendra Singh, has proven glad with the team's performance. The win notwithstanding, he called for the team to stay humble and focus on other competitions, mainly the Paris Olympics. With this victory, India proved that they were as strong on Asian hockey turf and set a benchmark that would be very high for future tournaments.
India's win was not only a testament to Deepika's brilliance but also the team's sterling attacking play and robust defensive structure. As Deepika and the team celebrate, the future looks bright for Indian women's hockey.