India beat Japan 4-1 in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 final at Mohali to win the trophy for a record-extending sixth title. The hosts came from 1-0 down to win the trophy for the third time in a row.
The Indian Men’s Hockey team extended their record as the most successful team in the history of the Asian Champions Trophy by winning the title for the sixth time after coming from behind to defeat Japan in the final by a 4-1 margin on Thursday (November 5) at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
India now has three more titles to their name than the second-most successful team in history, which is Pakistan with three titles. The Men in Saffron have previously lifted the trophy in 2011, 2016, 2018 (shared), 2023, and 2024. Meanwhile, Japan are still waiting to win their maiden title. This is the third instance of them losing the final after 2013 (Pakistan) and 2021 (South Korea).
India Survive Major Scare
While India won the fixture by a comfortable scoreline, the home team’s nerves were tested as Japan put up an impressive show and set the platform for a major shock as a goal from Kazumasa Matsumoto in the third minute saw them lead by 1-0 at the half-time break. Shilanand Lakra equalised for India in the 42nd minute before the hosts ran riot in the fourth quarter with goals from Dilpreet Singh (47′), Jugraj Singh (52′), and Vivek Sagar Prasad (53′).
The victory also marks a second continental title in back-to-back months for the Indian men’s hockey team after they won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya last month after beating South Korea in the summit clash. That victory also confirmed India’s qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India’s Road To Victory
India had a brilliant run to the title as they remained unbeaten in the competition. They won all their games in the tournament’s league stage at Jalandhar with victories over Bangladesh (13-0), China (5-2), Japan (4-1), Malaysia (4-2), and South Korea (8-0).
