Young striker Deepika turned out to be the star once again with a fine reverse hit goal as India retained their women’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) title after edging past Olympic silver medallist China 1-0 in the final here on Wednesday.

Deepika scored the winner for India from a penalty corner in the 31st minute to finish as the tournament’s highest goal-getter with 11 strikes.

India had earlier stunned China 3-0 in the league stages of the tournament. It was India’s third ACT title after winning in 2016 and 2023.

India are now the most successful side in the tournament’s history along side South Korea with three titles each. China, on the other hand, had to settle for their third runners-up finish.

Japan finished third on the podium after defeating Malaysia 4-1 in the third-fourth place classification match earlier in the day.

For India, the 17-year-old Sunelita Toppo was brilliant with her dribbling skills and defence splitting runs from both flanks. Three minutes into the second quarter, China secured the first penalty corner of the match but India’s second goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam made a terrific diving save to keep out Jinzhuang Tan.

In 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 the chances.

Minutes 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 half-time. India kept up the pressure on the Chinese defence and secured their fifth penalty corner with the first move after the change of ends.

Deepika this time finally found the net with a reverse hit after building on from a miss-trap push.

In the 42nd minute, Deepika had a bright chance to increase her tally when she earned a penalty stroke for a deliberate push inside the circle. But Chinese goalkeeper Li Ting pulled off a stunning save to deny the star Indian striker.

Minutes later, Ting saved Sushila Chanu’s shot from India’s sixth penalty corner.

Trailing by just a solitary goal, China tried to put pressure on India but thehome team’s defence could not be breached.

PTI