Asian Champions Trophy: India Beat China 5-2
India continued its winning start at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 with a 5-2 victory over China at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Thursday, October 29.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh and forward Sukhjeet Singh scored two goals each, while Jugraj Singh added another from a penalty corner to help the hosts secure all three points. China put up a spirited fight, scoring twice through penalty corners, but India’s attacking quality proved decisive.
The victory followed India’s commanding 13-0 win over Bangladesh in its opening match. With two consecutive wins, the defending champions maintained their momentum as they continued their campaign on home soil.
Sukhjeet Singh Gives India the Early Lead
India controlled much of the opening quarter, creating attacking opportunities and putting pressure on China’s defence. However, the breakthrough arrived only in the 13th minute, when Sukhjeet Singh produced an excellent finish.
Jugraj Singh delivered a precise aerial pass into the Chinese circle, where Sukhjeet controlled the ball before lifting it over goalkeeper Huanyu Wu. The goal gave India a 1-0 advantage and rewarded the hosts for their early attacking efforts.
China responded with greater intent and earned a penalty corner in the 18th minute, but India’s defence kept the visitors at bay.
India then won two consecutive penalty corners in the 20th minute but failed to convert either opportunity. China continued to defend with discipline before finding an equaliser in the 26th minute.
Peng Yang converted China’s second penalty corner with a drag-flick, bringing the score to 1-1. India responded almost immediately, with Harmanpreet Singh converting a penalty corner in the 27th minute to restore the hosts’ lead.
India went into half-time ahead 2-1 after successfully defending China’s late penalty-corner opportunities.
Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet Extend India’s Advantage
India began the second half aggressively, and Harmanpreet struck again in the 31st minute. The captain converted another penalty corner with a low flick, extending India’s lead to 3-1.
Three minutes later, Sukhjeet completed his brace to make it 4-1. The move began with Harmanpreet controlling an aerial ball near the halfway line and finding Aditya Arjun Lalage, whose pass set up Sukhjeet for his second field goal of the match.
China refused to give up and reduced the deficit in the 36th minute. Chongcong Chen converted a penalty corner through a well-executed variation, bringing the score to 4-2 and giving the visitors renewed hope.
India continued to create opportunities in the attacking circle. After an earlier penalty-corner attempt was saved, Jugraj Singh made his next opportunity count in the 47th minute, scoring with a powerful low flick to restore India’s three-goal cushion.
Despite further pressure from the hosts, China could not find another goal. India closed out the match with a convincing 5-2 win.
India Face Japan in the Next Match
The victory gave India its second consecutive win in the tournament following the emphatic opening-day result against Bangladesh. The team’s ability to convert penalty corners proved particularly important against a Chinese side that remained competitive for long periods.
India’s next assignment was against Japan on Friday, October 30. China, meanwhile, were scheduled to face South Korea as the league stage continued.
With the top four teams advancing to the semifinals, every league-stage result carries importance. India’s successive victories provided a strong start to its title defence, while the performances of Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet offered further encouragement ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
For the hosts, the 5-2 result was not just another win but a demonstration of their ability to respond when opponents threatened to close the gap. India’s combination of penalty-corner efficiency and open-play finishing ultimately made the difference against China.
