Jalandhar, 30 October: Abhishek marked his 150th international appearance with two goals as defending champions India beat Japan 4-1 at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 on Friday to book their place in the semi-finals. Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Vishnu Kant Singh also scored at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, while Shota Yamada’s penalty stroke was Japan’s only goal.
It was India’s third win in three matches, after a 13-0 rout of Bangladesh and a 5-2 victory over China, and Abhishek was named Player of the Match.
Abhishek strikes first, Japan level from the spot
India went ahead in the 11th minute. Vivek Sagar Prasad found Sukhjeet Singh on the left of the circle, and the move ended with Abhishek finishing to make it 1-0.
Japan hit back in the final seconds of the first quarter. A drag-flick from captain Raiki Fujishima struck Sanjay, who was defending on the goal line, and the umpires awarded a penalty stroke. India referred the decision, believing the ball had hit Sanjay’s hand, but the review was unsuccessful. Yamada converted in the 15th minute to make it 1-1.
Japan hold firm through the middle quarters
There were no goals in the second and third quarters. Japan were well organised at the back and made India work hard for every chance. They also earned several penalty corners of their own, though their variations did not produce a goal. The teams went in level at half-time, and it was still 1-1 going into the final quarter.
Harmanpreet breaks the deadlock
India raised the tempo after the break and finally got their reward in the 47th minute. They won their first penalty corner of the match, and Harmanpreet drove a powerful drag-flick into the net. It was the captain’s fifth goal of the tournament.
Four minutes later Abhishek added his second, finishing a well-worked move to make it 3-1 in the 51st minute. Vishnu Kant Singh completed the scoring with a superb solo goal in the 56th minute, and India controlled the closing stages to see out the win.
India top the table
The result took India to nine points from three matches with a goal difference of +19, putting them top of the standings. Malaysia also have nine points and booked their semi-final place by beating Bangladesh 6-1 on Friday.
Japan, who suffered their first defeat of the tournament, are third with six points. South Korea moved on to three points with a 2-1 win over China.
Malaysia up next
After a rest day on Saturday, India face Malaysia on Sunday, 1 November, at 7pm IST in Jalandhar in a meeting of the two unbeaten teams. In the other matches, South Korea play Bangladesh and China take on Japan.
The six teams play a single round-robin, with the top four going through to the semi-finals in Mohali on 4 November and the medal matches on 5 November. Five-time champions India, who beat China 5-2 on Thursday, are chasing a sixth title weeks after retaining their Asian Games gold.
