The round-robin stage of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 concluded in Jalandhar on 2 November, with three exciting encounters producing 13 goals. Hosts India completed a perfect round-robin campaign with an emphatic victory over Korea, Japan secured second place with an important win over Malaysia, while China and Bangladesh shared the points.
With the round-robin stage complete, India, Japan, Malaysia and Korea have qualified for the semi-finals, scheduled for 4 November in Mohali.
China and Bangladesh Share Points in 1–1 Draw
China and Bangladesh played out a closely contested 1–1 draw in the opening encounter of the day.
China entered the match following their 2–2 draw against Japan, while Bangladesh were looking to secure their first points of the tournament.
Both teams found the net once, but neither could secure the decisive goal.
The result saw China finish fifth in the round-robin standings with two points, while Bangladesh earned their first point and finished sixth.
Japan Defeat Malaysia 2–1 to Secure Second Place
Japan produced an important performance to defeat Malaysia 2–1 in a closely fought encounter.
Having shared the points with China in their previous match, Japan responded with a determined display to claim three valuable points and finish second in the standings.
Japan concluded the round-robin stage with 10 points from five matches, ahead of Malaysia, who finished third with nine points.
The two sides will face each other again in the semi-finals, setting up an exciting rematch in Mohali.
India Overwhelm Korea 8–0 to Complete Perfect Round-Robin Campaign
Hosts India concluded the round-robin stage in emphatic fashion with a commanding 8–0 victory over Korea, registering their fifth consecutive win.
India demonstrated their impressive attacking strength throughout the opening phase, finishing with 34 goals scored and just five conceded across five matches.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh continued his outstanding form, extending his lead at the top of the individual goalscoring charts with nine goals.
The result ensured India finished at the top of the standings with a maximum 15 points and an exceptional goal difference of +29.
Korea, despite the defeat, finished fourth with six points and will face India again in the semi-finals.
Day 5 Highlights
- 3 matches played
- 13 goals scored
- India complete the round-robin stage with five consecutive victories
- Japan defeat Malaysia 2–1 to finish second
- China and Bangladesh share the points in a 1–1 draw
- Harmanpreet Singh leads the goalscoring charts with nine goals
Final Round-Robin Standings
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 15 |
| 2 | Japan | 10 |
| 3 | Malaysia | 9 |
| 4 | Korea | 6 |
| 5 | China | 2 |
| 6 | Bangladesh | 1 |
Upcoming Matches – Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Venue: Mohali, Punjab
- 14:00 – China vs Bangladesh (5th Place Playoff)
- 16:30 – India vs Korea (Semi-Final 1)
- 19:00 – Japan vs Malaysia (Semi-Final 2)
Attention now turns to the knockout stage in Mohali, where four of Asia’s leading men’s hockey teams will compete for a place in the final.
Unbeaten India will look to extend their remarkable run against Korea, while Japan and Malaysia prepare for another exciting encounter following their closely contested match on the final day of round-robin action.
The winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the final on 5 November, when the continental champions will be crowned.
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Watch match highlights on the Official Asian Hockey Federation YouTube Channel.
