Rajgir: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team emerged victorious in the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024, successfully defending their title with a 1-0 win over China in the final at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium today. A clinical second-half strike from Deepika (31’) secured the win for India, capping off a gritty performance in what was a fiercely contested match.
Both teams began the match in a battle of attrition, with neither side able to break the deadlock in the first half. The game was a tactical chess match as both teams traded circles entries, but neither could get the crucial shot on goal. India displayed early promise with a series of quick passes late in the first quarter, but China’s resolute defense kept the match scoreless at the end of the first period.
The second quarter saw China take the initiative. They earned a penalty corner early on, but Bichu Devi’s acrobatic save kept India’s net safe. India responded almost immediately with a penalty corner of their own, but Deepika’s drag flick was expertly denied by China’s goalkeeper, Surong Wu. Both teams earned further penalty corners, but the score remained tied at 0-0 as the half-time whistle blew.
India started the second half with renewed energy. Within seconds of the restart, they earned another penalty corner. A mistimed trap saw Navneet pass to Deepika on the left wing, and she unleashed a reverse shot into the bottom right corner to give India a crucial lead. India continued to press forward, aiming for a second goal, but a penalty stroke attempt by Deepika—after a foul on her during a counter-attack—was saved by China’s goalkeeper Ting Li.
As the final quarter commenced, China increased their offensive efforts, pressing forward in search of an equalizer. However, India’s defense stood strong, with key interventions from the defensive unit and goalkeeper Bichu Devi. India’s determination to maintain their lead paid off as they defended with precision, denying China any clear opportunities to score.
The match concluded with India’s defense holding firm, ensuring they clinched their third Asian Champions Trophy title with a 1-0 victory. The win was a testament to India’s resilience, both in attack and defense, as they overcame a determined Chinese side.
In recognition of their triumph, Hockey India announced a reward of ₹3 Lakh each for all players and ₹1.5 Lakh each for the support staff. Additionally, the Asian Hockey Federation made history by offering a reward for the podium finishers. India will receive USD 10,000, while China and Japan will be awarded USD 7,000 and USD 5,000 respectively.
