India hold onto women's ACT hockey title with Deepika’s match-winning goal

Young striker Deepika turned out to be the star once again with a fine reverse hit goal as India retained their womens Asian Champions Trophy title after edging past Olympic silver medallist China 10 in a pulsating final here WednesdayDeepika scored the winner for India from a penalty corner in the 31st minute to finish as the tournaments highest goal getter with 11 strikesIndia had earlier stunned China 30 in the league stages of the tournamentIt was Indias third ACT title after winning the top honours in 2016 and 2023The Indian team is now the most successful side in the tournaments history along side South Korea with three titles eachChina on the other hand will have to settle for their third runnerup finishAlso Read Sangita on song as India rout Malaysia 40Japan finished third on the podium after defeating Malaysia 41 in the thirdfourth place classification match earlier in the dayIt was neck and neck fight between the two sides throughout the contest Both India and China made many promising circle penetrations but the backline of both the sides was rock solid in the first two quartersThe 17yearold Sunelita Toppo was brilliant with her dribbling skills and defence splitting runs from both flanks for IndiaThree minutes into the second quarter China secured the first penalty corner of the match but Indias second goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam made a terrific diving save to keep out Jinzhuang TanIn the next two minutes the Indians earned as many as four penalty corners but as has been case in the tournament so far they failed to utilise a single with Deepika taking most of the chancesPenalty corner conversion has been a concern for India in the tournament as in the semifinal against Japan they managed 13 set pieces but failed to find the net even onceIn the 23rd minute it was Indias turn to concede another penalty corner but the first rusher defended bravely to deny the ChineseMinutes later skipper Salima Tete created a fine ball for Sharmila Devi whose first time hit to the near post went wide as the deadlock continued at halftimeIndia kept up the pressure on the Chinese defence and secured their fifth penalty corner with the first move after the change of endsDeepika this time finally found the net with a reverse hit after building on from a misstrap pushIn the 42nd minute Deepika had a bright chance to increase her tally when she earned a penalty stroke for a deliberate push inside the circleBut Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting pulled off a stunning reflex save to deny the star Indian strikerMinutes later Ting once again came to Chinas rescue as she saved Sushila Chanus shot from Indias sixth penalty cornerTrailing by just a solitary goal the Chinese employed highpress hockey thereafter and also managed to breach inside the Indian circle on a few occasions but the home teams defence didnt breakWith agency inputs