India women clinched their third Asian Champions Trophy title with a 1-0 victory over Olympic silver medallists China in the final at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
A second-half goal from Deepika was enough to seal the win, as both teams battled in a hard-fought contest.
The silver lining for China was that they head into the start of the Pro League campaign against England and Belgium in good form.
The first half saw few clear-cut chances, with both sides exchanging circle entries but failing to convert.
India had the better of the late exchanges, but China’s defense, led by goalkeeper Surong Wu, held firm to keep the score 0-0 at half-time.
In the second half, India took the lead when Deepika’s reverse shot from a penalty corner found the bottom corner.
Despite a strong response from China, including a penalty stroke save by China’s Ting Li, India held firm and sealed the victory.
Hockey India announced a reward of ₹3 Lakh each for the players and ₹1.5 Lakh for the support staff in recognition of their triumph.
🎉 What a performance! Deepika has been unstoppable at the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024, earning the Player of the Match and finishing as the top scorer! 🏑🔥 Her dedication and skill are shining bright, leading the charge for the team.
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 20, 2024
Let's keep the momentum… pic.twitter.com/PCrW75K7cX
The Asian Hockey Federation also awarded cash prizes for the top three teams, with India receiving USD 10,000, China USD 7,000, and Japan USD 5,000.
