India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Highlights: IND beat CHN 1-0, defend Asian crown

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: India have been dominant but Craig Fulton might just be happier with this win than any of the others because it came on a not-so-great day in the office for his side. They were missing chances, there were misplaced passes, and Harmanpreet Singh's drag flicks were going off-target. And yet, they managed to get the W at the end of it all. Considering how they have played throughout this tournament, barring this final which was pretty much unlike any other match before this in so many ways, it is fair to say now that India are head and shoulders above all major Asian teams. The tricky part would now be to maintain this hegemony for years to come. Commiserations to China but this is a country that is making all the right moves in this sport. They have made it to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy for the first time ever and this is after the women's team won a historic silver at the Paris Olympics earlier this year. Fans of India vs Pakistan hockey matches that produced some of the greatest contests the sport has ever seen in decades past would be happy to know that Pakistan are back in the top three of this tournament for the first time since 2018 as well. That's it from here, hope you all enjoyed this tournament as much as we enjoyed covering it. Ciao!

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: India started off by beating China 3-0. This was followed by a 5-1 win over Japan and an 8-1 hammering of Malaysia. They faced tougher opposition after that, beating South Korea 3-1 and Pakistan 2-1. India then beat South Korea 3-1 in the semi-final and defended their title by beating China 1-0 in the final.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: They follow up the second consecutive Olympic bronze medal they won this year with a second consecutive Asian Champions Trophy crown. They have won the tournament a record-extending fifth time. China deserve the applause they are getting from the crowd though. They were rank underdogs and started off with a 3-0 defeat to India. Today, though, they pushed the defending champions to the limit and the fact that India won by just a goal is huge credit to them. A lot of positives for Pakistan as well, who were in the stands watching this match. They won the third-place playoff, thus finishing in the top three for the first time since 2018.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Lin takes a shot from the edge of the circle, Manpreet blocks it but the Chinese attacker then loops the ball towards goal. It misses the target but Karkera had seen it through all the way. Just over a min left in the match now.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: China have taken off their goalkeeper and so they are throwing the kitchen sink now. India are just hogging the ball, Harmanpreet leading the way as they slow the game down to a walking pace. They now know, though, that they have an empty goal to shoot at.

56 mins gone, India 1-0 China

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Harmanpreet creates it by dribbling to the baseline, something that doesn't happen too often, and Jugraj scores, that doesn't happen too often either. India win a long corner. Harmanpreet dribbles his way to the baseline instead of drilling the ball into the circle, he then squares it to Jugraj who absolutely hammers it to the board. India have been relentless in this quarter, as they have been all match really, and now they get their reward at long last. That incredibly loud crowd have been silenced for now.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: High press again from the Indians but the Chinese win the ball back and attack. They are foiled but this seems to be a continuation of how the third quarter ends. Are we going to see the upset to end all upsets today?

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: China have done quite a lot of attacking in this third quarter and these are worrying signs indeed for the Indians. China in this quarter have been brilliant in defence have also given India some scary moments in their own circle.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Some sustained pressure from China but Hundal takes the ball forward on his own to hit them on the counter. Makes a circle entry himself and takes a shot but it is wide. Choina come back and Vivek takes one to his leg to block a drill into the circle from a Chinese player.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: A rare attack from China and they win a PC. The Indians appeal though, with Pathak having an especially long conversation with the referee. Their argument is that the ball wasn't stopped before the free hit was taken just before China won the PC. However, the referee's decision is upheld and the Indians are extremely unhappy about that. India seemingly defend the PC well but then China ask for a referral. They are succesfull and they get another PC with just over5 mins left in the quarter.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: How long can China continue this. The more they do it, the more frustrated the Indians get. So far, India just relentless in attack, but the Chinese defence has has held up so well that the Indians haven't had any clear shots on goal.

36 mins gone, India 0-0 China

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Raucuous atmosphere at half-time. This crowd understandably thrilled that their side have prevented the Indians from scoring in the first half, despite the latter having more than 85 per cent possession in the first half.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: And breath…

India are a frustrated lot at the end of that half. They are the top-ranked side in this tournament by some distance, China came into the tournament as the lowest ranked. And yet, the Indians haven't been able to break them down. India have also slipped up quite a few times in attack, wasted a few chances that they have burried so far in previous matches in this tournament. Jarmanpreet is arguing with a Chinese player as the two teams walk off. That must be an interesting conversation considering Jarmanpreet surely doesn't speak the local language and chances are the Chinese player doesn't speak Hindi, Punjabi or English.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: China counter in the last minute of the quarter and make a circle entry! Sukhjeet slides in to prevent a square from the right baseline. Some tempers flaring up right at the end of it as well, who would have thought we would have this kind of action in this match! For now, it looks like this half is going to end goalless.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Well India win a PC and can you believe it, there is a mis-trap! India keep the ball though, it goes to Harmanpreet inside the circle and he flicks. The brilliant Wang gets something on it and the ball hits the post.

27 mins gone, India 0-0 China

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: China have parked the bus Mourinho-style and Craig Fulton seems to be getting increasingly frustrated. India are deploying a full-press, which is something of a last resort in Fulton's play book and so it is pretty clear that the defending champions are desperate for a goal. Nilakanta makes a circle entry on the left and tries to control the ball. But there were so many Chinese sticks snapping at him that he had no space at all.

25 mins gone, India 0-0 China

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Sumit passes it forward to Jarmanpreet on the left and India have a circle entry. Jarmanpreet runs along the baseline and tries to square it, China manage to get it away for a long corner. India dominating possession in this quarter but they haven't really been able to find a big opening yet.

India 0-0 China after 23 mins

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Suraj Karkera to stand in goal, India sticking with that system that has worked so well for them throughout this tournament. China stick with Wang. Here we go!

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Pathak with a couple of big saves in the last 10 seconds off a couple of PCs that China won. He and his Chinese counterpart have been the standout players in this quarter and it is probably because of this that the score is 0-0. Riveting hockey thus far.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Wang Caiyu is often dubbed the Great Wall of China and that tag comes with good reason. First Nilakanta with a lot of space at the end of the 12th minute at the edge of the circle takes a powerful low shot, Wang makes a sharp save. Then a pass by Jugraj from the Indian half finds its way into the Chinese circle. Sukhjeet controls it around the penalty stroke spot, Wang spreads eagle at his feet and parries the shot away. Incredible stuff.

14 mins gone, India 0-0 China

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Harmanpreet found the foot of a rusher, leading to just ridiculous cheers from the crowd. Another PC awarded and this time, Harmanpreet goes wide! That is not something we see often. The crowd here is making all kinds of din, an incredible atmosphere, fitting for a final.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: China's defence has held well but some brilliant work from Vivek on the rebound from a shot from a difficult angle. Harmanpreet has some strapping on his feet but it does look like he will be on the flick regardless. 9 mins gone, IND 0-0 CHN

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Vivek had made a circle entry along the left baseline, he kept the ball amind a sea of red shirts and cut it in to Sukhjeet who flicked the ball behind to goal between his feet. The Chinese goalkeeper did well to kick that away. India, as expected, have made the better moves thus far but China have prevented India from scoring within the first five minutes, something they weren't able to do last time.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: Pushback by Sukhjeet. Right, when India won the title last year it was seen as great preparation for the Asian Games, where they won the gold as well. Today they are looking establish themselves as THE team to beat in Asia. They have played like a side head and shoulders above the rest of the continent thus far, now can they beat China again? We will have to wait and watch.

India vs China, Asian Champions Trophy Final Live Hockey Score: All right then, India are up against it today as far as the crowd hostility is concerned. Hulunbuir is in an area that is widely considered to be the birthplace of hockey in China and indeed, among the oldest references to a sport similar to hockey can be found here. It is a packed stadium and Chinese flags are everywhere. Credit to the home crowd though, they were very respectful to the Indian national anthem.