New Delhi. Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh said that the unity among the players and their indomitable desire to support each other helped India win the Asian Champions Trophy for a record fifth time. India defeated China 1-0 in the final in Hulunbuir on Tuesday with the help of Jugraj Singh’s last minute goal. Pakistan won the bronze medal with a 5-2 win over South Korea. According to a Hockey India release, Harmanpreet said, “The final was really tense. The Chinese team gave us a tough challenge throughout the match, due to which it was not easy to create a chance to score. “
He said, “But in the last few years, the players’ trust in each other has increased a lot. We are ready to do anything for each other. This kind of unity helps us win matches.” The Indian captain said, “Winning the gold medal in the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai last year, the gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics has created a deep harmony within the team.” Harmanpreet led from the front in these competitions. She scored 10 goals in the Paris Olympics. India scored a total of 26 goals in the Asian Champions Trophy, out of which seven goals were scored by Harmanpreet. She scored all her goals on penalty corners.
Harmanpreet said that it would be important to maintain this success in the future as well. He said, “We are proud that we were able to defend our title but the work is not over here. There are still some areas that need improvement. We have to become stronger as a team.” Vice-captain Vivek Sagar said that after winning the bronze medal in the Olympics, the goal of every team was to defeat India. He said, “It was not easy to play against any team in the group stage. After winning the bronze medal in the Olympics, every team had made it their goal to defeat India. But each of our players gave their best.
