India lead Japan 1-0 in Asian Champions Trophy after Abhishek opens scoring

India took a 1-0 lead over Japan in the opening quarter of their Asian Champions Trophy match on October 30, 2026, when Abhishek finished a team move. Sukhjeet supplied the decisive pass to set up the goal.

The national anthems were completed and India wore an all-white kit while Japan appeared in red and black. INDIA XI named for the match were Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay, Rajinder Singh and Shilanand Lakra, with substitutes Dilpreet Singh, Krishan Pathak, Aditya Lalage, Amit Rohidas, Angad Bir Singh, Amandeep Lakra and Vishnukant Singh. Mandeep Singh and Nilakanta Sharma were rested for the game, and Abhishek was felicitated ahead of the clash on his 150th international appearance.

Abhishek got the final touch to put India ahead after Sukhjeet created the opening; Sukhjeet beat his marker, controlled the play and set up Abhishek, who took a touch and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. The resulting goal gave India the early advantage in the first quarter.

Japan earned the match's first penalty corner after Vivek Sagar committed a foul; the visitors tried a variation with Nagayoshi taking the shot but his effort went wide, and Japan missed the chance to take an early lead.

Japan head coach Ippei Fujimoto said: "It will be a tough game today. They have a good strikers, we want to have good defence. We want to maintain our discipline as well." He added: "We have two wins from two games, looking for more consistency. Angad and Vishnu are playing again, good chance for them to impress." The match was scheduled to be telecast live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports Select 2, with live streaming available on the JioHotstar app and website.

Earlier in the tournament India defeated China 5-2 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, with captain Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scoring two goals each to register a second consecutive win. Sukhjeet scored in the 12th and 34th minutes; Harmanpreet converted penalty corners in the 27th and 31st minutes; Jugraj Singh added a goal in the 47th minute; China’s goals came from Peng Yang in the 26th minute and Chongcong Chen in the 36th minute.

In that China match India dominated early possession and broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Jugraj played a long scoop finding Sukhjeet inside the circle, who controlled and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Huanyu Wu. China earned a penalty corner in the 18th minute that India defended, and India won two penalty corners in the 20th minute with Harmanpreet failing to convert the second. Peng Yang equalised from a drag-flick on 26 minutes, and a minute later Harmanpreet restored the lead with a powerful low flick from India's third penalty corner. China had two penalty corners 30 seconds before half-time but did not convert.

India began the second half on the front foot; Harmanpreet scored from the team's fourth penalty corner to make it 3-1, Sukhjeet then extended the lead in the 34th minute after controlling an aerial pass from Harmanpreet and finishing a move involving Aditya Arjun Lalage. China reduced the deficit two minutes later through Chongcong Chen from their fourth penalty corner. India pressed again in the fourth quarter, Jugraj converted a penalty corner in the 47th minute and, although Harmanpreet's late penalty corner was kept out by the Chinese goalkeeper, the hosts secured a 5-2 victory.

India will next face Japan on Friday, while China will take on South Korea.