India vs Japan Hockey Live Score, Asian Champions Trophy: Abhishek opens scoring; IND lead 1-0 late in first quarter

India vs Japan Hockey Asian Champions Trophy Live Score: Check out all the latest live updates as Harmanpreet Singh's men take on Japan in their third match of the tournament in Jalandhar.

Harmanpreet Singh will be leading the charge for India (Hockey India)

India vs Japan, Asian Champions Trophy 2026 Live Score: India face Japan in a thrilling clash in third round clashes of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in Jalandhar. Both teams head into this match undefeated with six points each. Defending champions India are in excellent form after a commanding 5-2 victory over China, which followed their 13-0 thumping of Bangladesh. In the China clash, India were powered by two goals each from captain Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh. Meanwhile, Japan secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against Bangladesh. While India will be the clear favourites playing in front of a passionate home crowd in Punjab, Japan is expected to be their toughest test of the tournament. Interestingly, Japan is the last Asian team to have beaten India, at the 2022 Asia Cup.

Follow all the updates here:

• 30 Oct 2026, 07:31:48 PM IST

  India score!!

  India have opened the scoring late into the first quarter of the game. Playing his 150th game for India, it is Abhishek Nain who opens the scoring for the home side. it was Sukhjeet Singh who got the assist as he created the goal beuatifully as he beat his marker showing superb control.

• 30 Oct 2026, 07:24:29 PM IST

  India struggling to attack!!

  In the first five minutes of the game, India have not made a single attacking move, with zero circle entries. The Japanese team are defending strongly. The Indians are trying to find that one killer pass or the one big moment to turn things around. So far, they are playing the patient game.

• 30 Oct 2026, 07:19:02 PM IST

  Match kicks off!!

  The Asian Champions Trophy 2026 match between India and Japan has kicked off. India are in their away colours of white tonight, as the look for their third win on the trot and go top of the table. And early into the game, it is Japan who has got a penalty corner.

• 30 Oct 2026, 07:15:44 PM IST

  India playing XI

  Here is India's playing XI for the match against Japan:
  
  Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay, Rajinder Singh, Shilanand Lakra.

  Subs: Dilpreet Singh, Krishan Pathak, Aditya Lalage, Amit Rohidas, Angad Bir Singh, Amandeep Lakra, Vishnukant Singh.

• 30 Oct 2026, 07:13:34 PM IST

  Abhishek Nain achieves milestone!!

  Midfielder Abhishek Nain is playing a memorable match in his career, as this is the 150th time he is representing India at the international stage. Before the match between India and Japan kicks off, he has been awarded a special jersey with the number 150 etched on its back.

• 30 Oct 2026, 06:56:51 PM IST

  When and where to watch match?

  The Asian Champions Trophy 2026 match between India and Japan will be telecast on the Star Sports 2 and Star Sports Select 2 channels. It will be live streamed on the JioHotstar app and website.

• 30 Oct 2026, 06:48:56 PM IST

  India face tough test

  India are the undisputed kings of Asia when it comes to men's hockey. However, the only team that could give them even an ounce of challenge is definitely Japan. In fact, the Japanese side were the last Asian team to defeat India, with that loss coming in the Asia Cup 2022.

• 30 Oct 2026, 06:35:44 PM IST

  Japan undefeated too!!

  Like India, Japan too have remained undefeated in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026. In fact, both India and Japan share the same number of points, as both are placed on the 2nd and 3rd spots in the table with 6 points each from 2 games. Japan began their campaign with a 3-2 win over South Korea followed by a slender 1-0 victory against Bangladesh.

• 30 Oct 2026, 06:25:11 PM IST

  Harmanpreet Singh on song!!

  While India have slammed 18 goals in the last two games, it is Harmanpreet Singh, who has led from the front, with the captain being India's highest goal-scorer of the tournament so far. He has scored 4 goals - a brace in each game. All goals have come courtesy his world class drag flicks. Overall, he is the joint-top goalscorer of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 alongside Malaysia's Abu Kamal Azrai.

• 30 Oct 2026, 06:09:49 PM IST

  India in red-hot form

  India have begun the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 campaign with a bang. In their first match of the tournament, they beat Bangladesh by a massive margin of 13-0. In the very next game, they defeated China by another handsome margin of 5-2. India will now look for a hat-trick of wins.

• 30 Oct 2026, 05:47:20 PM IST

  Hello and welcome

  Hello and welcome to the Olympic Surjeet Singh Stadium in Jalandhar as India take on Japan in their third encounter of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026. Can India register a hat-trick of wins to ensure that the perfect start to their title defence continues?