India secured their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title with a hard-fought 1-0 win over hosts China, thanks to a late goal by Jugraj Singh. Despite India's dominance throughout the tournament, the final was a defensive battle, highlighting China's growing stature in Asian hockey. The event was overshadowed by controversy as Pakistani players were seen holding Chinese flags during the final, leading to widespread trolling on social media. Pakistan, who lost to China in the semi-final, managed to claim third place by defeating Korea 5-2. This marked Pakistan's first top-three finish since 2018. India's victory continues their recent success, coming off consecutive Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.