India made it two wins from two at the Asian Champions Trophy on Thursday, 29 October 2026, beating China 5 to 2 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. Sukhjeet Singh and captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice each, and Jugraj Singh added the fifth as the defending champions moved to the top of the standings, DD News reported.
The win followed India’s 13 to 0 thrashing of Bangladesh in the opening match. It was a tougher contest this time, with China twice cutting the gap from penalty corners before India pulled clear in the second half.
Table of Contents
How the goals came
India took the lead in the 12th minute. Jugraj Singh sent a long aerial ball forward, Sukhjeet Singh brought it down and lifted it over China goalkeeper Wu Huanyu, Hindustan Times reported. China responded soon after, and goalkeeper Suraj Karkera had to make two quick saves to keep India ahead, according to DD News.
China drew level in the 26th minute when Yang Peng converted a penalty corner. India hit back within a minute. Harmanpreet Singh, playing in front of a home crowd in Punjab, drag flicked a penalty corner into the net in the 27th minute to make it 2 to 1 at half time. Amit Rohidas also blocked a China penalty corner before the break.
The third quarter decided the match. Harmanpreet struck again from a penalty corner in the 31st minute, and Sukhjeet scored his second field goal in the 34th minute for a 4 to 1 lead. Chen Chongcong pulled one back for China from a penalty corner in the 36th minute, Akashvani News reported.
Jugraj Singh sealed the result with a penalty corner conversion in the 47th minute. Harmanpreet had a late chance for a hat trick, but Wu Huanyu saved his attempt after a failed video referral by China, DD News reported. Sukhjeet was named Player of the Match.
Match numbers
India controlled most of the game. According to Hindustan Times, India had 56 per cent possession, 19 circle entries and eight shots on goal, and converted four of their eight penalty corners. China, ranked 22nd in the world, managed eight circle entries and four shots, and scored twice from five penalty corners.
The penalty corner return was the big positive for India. Four goals from eight chances is a strong rate in international hockey, and three different players contributed to the scoring. The concern was China’s two goals, both from set pieces, which suggests India’s defence still conceded too many penalty corners against a lower ranked side.
What the coach said
India’s head coach Craig Fulton said before the match that China were something of an unknown side, which made them hard to plan for, Sportstar reported. Sportstar noted that China tried to pack the midfield and push India into aerial balls, and that India kept their momentum going either side of the break, something Fulton has admitted had been lacking.
India had to adapt to that plan. Hindustan Times said China were quick on the counterattack early on, before Hardik Singh took charge as the main playmaker in midfield and India regained control of possession. Sportstar added that the Indian midfield kept rotating and stretching the Chinese defence, so India did not have to rely only on aerial passes to break through.
Asian Champions Trophy standings
After two rounds, India lead the table on six points with a goal difference of plus 16. Malaysia and Japan also have six points each. Malaysia beat Korea 3 to 1 on Thursday, while Japan edged Bangladesh 1 to 0 through a 40th minute penalty corner from captain Raiki Fujishima, DD News and Sportstar reported. Korea, China and Bangladesh are yet to win.
Six teams are playing a single round robin league, and the top four will reach the semi finals. League matches run in Jalandhar until 2 November. The semi finals will be played in Mohali on 4 November and the medal matches on 5 November, according to DD News. India are the defending champions and have won the title five times.
India vs Japan next
India face Japan in their third league match on Friday, 30 October, at 7 pm IST, Akashvani News reported. Japan are unbeaten so far, so the match is likely to decide who leads the table going into the second half of the league. The other matches on Friday are Bangladesh against Malaysia and Korea against China.
For India, the target is to keep winning and stay clear of a tricky semi final draw. With Harmanpreet back among the goals and Sukhjeet in form in open play, Fulton’s side looks well placed, but Japan will test the defence far more than China did.
Read more on Bharat Stories about National Sports Day and Major Dhyan Chand, India’s performance at the Olympics, and the history of sports and games in India.
Featured image photo: Ashlyak, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (a field hockey match in India, 2012, used for illustration; it does not show the Indian national team).
FAQ
What was the score in India vs China at the Asian Champions Trophy?
India beat China 5 to 2 in Jalandhar on 29 October 2026. Sukhjeet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh scored twice each and Jugraj Singh scored once.
When do India play Japan?
India play Japan on Friday, 30 October 2026, at 7 pm IST in Jalandhar.
Where are the semi finals and final?
The semi finals are in Mohali on 4 November and the medal matches on 5 November 2026.
Sources
- DD News, 29 October 2026: match report, saves, missed hat trick, other results, table and schedule.
- Hindustan Times, 29 October 2026: goal details and match statistics.
- Sportstar, 29 October 2026: coach Craig Fulton’s comments and tactical notes.
- Akashvani News, 29 October 2026: scorers, minutes and next fixtures.