India's Triumph: A Testament to Unyielding Camaraderie

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh attributed India's latest victory in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy to the team's deep camaraderie and unity. India clinched the trophy for a record fifth time by defeating China, thanks to Jugraj Singh's late goal. The team's strong bond and commitment were pivotal in their success.

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh credited India's recent success to strong team camaraderie, emphasising that their deep bond and willingness to ''die for one another'' helped them overcome China to win the Hero Asian Champions Trophy for a record-extending fifth time.

India rode on Jugraj Singh's late strike to defeat China 1-0 in a tense final in Hulunbuir on Tuesday. Pakistan secured the bronze medal with a 5-2 win over South Korea.

"The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal-scoring chance," Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

''But the team over the last year has built immense trust in each other. We are willing to die for one another. It was this sense of unity reassuring us that we will find a way to win the game together."

Harmanpreet singled out the gold medal in last year's Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, the gold in the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the bronze from the Paris 2024 Olympics as key milestones that forged a deep camaraderie within the team. Harmanpreet, shortlisted for FIH's Player-of-the-Year Award, led from the front again as the team remained unbeaten.

Out of India's 26 goals in the tournament, Harmanpreet scored seven, all from penalty corners. He said it is crucial for India to build on this success.

''We are proud to have retained our title but the work doesn't stop now," he said. "We have areas we need to improve; we need to build depth in our squad. The team will head back to camp after a short break and start preparing for upcoming tournaments to make our supporters proud again."

India vice-captain Vivek Sagar Prasad remarked that the Olympics bronze medal made India the "team to beat" in the tournament. ''All the group stage teams were tough," he said. "The bronze medal from the Olympics painted a target on our backs; we were the team to beat."

He lauded the squad for stepping up and making it seem like they were cruising past opponents. "The defenders remained reliable, and the midfielders and forwards ran riot on the pitch. All in all, it was very enjoyable," he added.

(With inputs from agencies.)