Harmanpreet attributes success to team camaraderie

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh credited India’s recent success to strong team camaraderie, emphasising that their deep bond and willingness to “die for one another” helped them overcome China to win the Hero Asian Champions Trophy for a record-extending fifth time.

India rode on Jugraj Singh’s late strike to defeat China 1-0 in a tense final in Hulunbuir on Tuesday. Pakistan won the bronze medal with a 5-2 win over South Korea.

“The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal scoring chance,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

“But the team over the last year has built immense trust in each other. We are willing to die for one another. It was this sense of unity reassuring us that we will find a way to win the game together.”