समाचार Samāchār · Sports · 31 October 2026
India beat Japan 4-1 and reach the Asian Champions Trophy semi-finals
Abhishek scored twice in his 150th international as the defending champions made it three from three in Jalandhar. Malaysia, also unbeaten, are next on Sunday.
| India | 4 Abhishek 11’, 51’ · Harmanpreet 47’ · Vishnu Kant 56’ |
|---|---|
| Japan | 1 Shota Yamada 15’ (PS) |
India won 4-1
India are in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy. The defending champions beat Japan 4-1 in Jalandhar on Friday. It is their third win in three matches, after 13-0 against Bangladesh and 5-2 against China.
Japan made India work for it. Abhishek put India ahead in the 11th minute. Japan levelled in the 15th through a Shota Yamada penalty stroke, given after the ball struck Sanjay on the goal line. It stayed 1-1 at half-time. Captain Harmanpreet Singh restored the lead in the 47th minute. Abhishek scored again in the 51st, in his 150th international match. Vishnu Kant Singh finished it in the 56th. Abhishek was named Player of the Match.
The change came from the bench. Abhishek said coach Craig Fulton told the team at half-time to create pressure on Japan. In his words: “Our strategy in the last quarter was to control the game and press higher.” India rotated too. Vishnu Kant and Angad Bir Singh came in. Mandeep Singh and Nilakanta Sharma were rested.
India and Malaysia both have nine points. India lead on goal difference, +19 against +8. Malaysia beat Bangladesh 6-1 on Friday and are also through. The two meet on Sunday in Jalandhar. That match decides who tops the group. It is the first real test of this run, and a useful one before the knockouts.
What a founder takes from it: The game was level at half-time and won in the last quarter, after one clear instruction from the coach. Founders can take the same lesson: when a plan is stuck, a simple change in intent, carried out by everyone at once, often does more than a new plan.