Abhishek’s Brace Powers India Past Japan 4-1 for a Third Straight Asian Champions Trophy Win
This was the test India had been waiting for, and for a long time on Friday night it looked like a proper test. Japan came to Jalandhar unbeaten, organised, and completely unbothered by the noise around them. Then India’s captain and their in-form striker did what champions do.
Abhishek was the night’s man. He scored twice, picked up the player of the match award, and did it on his 150th international appearance, according to the match graphics that went up after full time. That is a night you remember. When India needed someone to find space against a packed Japanese defence, he was the one finding it.
The game turned in the 46th minute. Japan had held India out through the third quarter and into the fourth, blocking the penalty corners, forcing India to be patient in a way they had not needed to be against Bangladesh or China. Then Harmanpreet Singh converted India’s first penalty corner of the late game, and the floodgates opened. That is what a world-class drag-flick does to a tight game. One moment of quality, and suddenly the team chasing has to chase even harder.
Japan deserve credit here. They were the last Asian side to beat India, back at the 2022 Asia Cup, and they played like a team that believed it could happen again. They kept the score honest for most of the night, and they will take plenty from this into Sunday’s game against China, where their semi-final place is very much in their own hands.
For India, though, the numbers are starting to look ominous for everyone else. Three wins from three. Twenty-two goals scored, three conceded. And a winning run in this tournament that now stretches to fifteen straight victories, according to the Stick2Hockey report. The defending champions have not just started well. They have started like a team that expects to finish the job in Mohali.
Next up is the big one. Malaysia v India on Sunday night, first against second, both on nine points. Friday was the test. Sunday is the statement game.
Related:
- https://sportscursor.com/japan-v-india-asian-champions-trophy-friday-30-october-2026-preview/
- https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-what-friday-decides-nine-points-semifinal-30-october-2026/
- https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-sunday-card-malaysia-india-korea-bangladesh-china-japan-1-november-2026/
- https://sportscursor.com/live/
- https://sportscursor.com/latest-news/
