India continued its dominant run in the Asian Champions Trophy, securing a 3-0 victory over Japan in the final league match at the Rajgir Sports Complex. This triumph propelled India to the semifinals as table-toppers, setting up a potential rematch with Japan in the last four.
Despite Japan’s loss, they also booked a spot in the semifinals as the fourth-ranked side. This was India’s sixth win over Japan in seven encounters, but Japan had emerged victorious in their last meeting earlier this year, scoring the lone goal to deny India an Olympic berth.
That defeat had led to a major overhaul of the Indian team and coaching staff. While the Japanese team in this tournament is different, the heartbreak of that loss still lingered in the Indian players’ minds.
India’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with Japan struggling to create any significant scoring opportunities. The Indian defense, led by goalkeeper Savita Punia, stood firm, denying Japan any clear shots on goal.
India’s offense, on the other hand, was relentless. Navneet Kaur broke the deadlock in the 37th minute with a reverse hit, capitalizing on a backpass from Lalremsiami. Deepika then converted two penalty corners in quick succession at the start of the final quarter, sealing the victory for India.
In the other matches, China defeated Korea 2-0, while Malaysia secured a 2-0 win over Thailand. These results set up the semifinals, with India facing China and Malaysia taking on Japan.
India’s performance in this tournament has been a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. After the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics, the team has regrouped and is now on the cusp of another title.
