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India continued its dominant run in the Asian Champions Trophy, securing a 3-0 victory over Japan in the final league match at the Rajgir Sports Complex. This triumph propelled India to the semifinals as table-toppers, setting up a potential rematch with Japan in the last four.Despite Japan's loss, they also booked a spot in the semifinals as the fourth-ranked side. This was India's sixth win over Japan in seven encounters, but Japan had emerged victorious in their last meeting earlier this year, scoring the lone goal to deny India an Olympic berth.That defeat had led to a major overhaul of the Indian team and coaching staff. While the Japanese team in this tournament is different, the heartbreak of that loss still lingered in the Indian players' minds.India's dominance was evident throughout the match, with Japan struggling to create any significant scoring opportunities. The Indian defense, led by goalkeeper Savita Punia, stood firm, denying Japan any clear shots on goal.India's offense, on the other hand, was relentless. Navneet Kaur broke the deadlock in the 37th minute with a reverse hit, capitalizing on a backpass from Lalremsiami. Deepika then converted two penalty corners in quick succession at the start of the final quarter, sealing the victory for India.In the other matches, China defeated Korea 2-0, while Malaysia secured a 2-0 win over Thailand. These results set up the semifinals, with India facing China and Malaysia taking on Japan.India's performance in this tournament has been a testament to the team's resilience and determination. After the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics, the team has regrouped and is now on the cusp of another title.

Defending champions Indian Railways secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over former champions BPCL in the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament on Wednesday. The hard-fought match was filled with twists and turns, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats.Railways dominated the early stages of the game, taking a 4-2 lead going into the fourth quarter. However, BPCL refused to go down without a fight, forcing three consecutive penalty corners at the start of the quarter. Railways' defense held firm, but BPCL's relentless attack paid off as former international Devender Walmiki scored a brace within three minutes to equalize.Just when it seemed like BPCL would snatch a draw, Railways' Darshan Gawkar delivered the decisive blow in the dying minutes of the match. The goal sent shockwaves through the BPCL camp and secured Railways' place in the semifinals.In the other Pool-A match, Indian Army defeated Maharashtra 2-1 to join Railways in the last four. Cyril Lugun and Akshay Dubey scored for Army, while Venkatesh Kenche netted a consolation goal for Maharashtra.The semifinalists from Pool-B are IOC and Odisha. IOC defeated Central Secretariat 6-1, while Odisha beat Karnataka 6-4.

Harlequins' audacious approach propelled them to a thrilling 42-41 victory over Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, securing their first semi-final appearance in the tournament's history.The English side, led by director of rugby Billy Millard, displayed unwavering determination and attacking prowess throughout the high-octane encounter. Millard's "swing the bat" mentality proved effective as Harlequins overcame a formidable Bordeaux-Begles outfit.The match erupted with a flurry of tries, with both teams crossing the line six times. Harlequins' scrum-half Will Porter opened the scoring, followed by a penalty try awarded after Bordeaux-Begles' Mateo Garcia illegally obstructed Marcus Smith's pass.Despite the scorching heat, Harlequins maintained their intensity, extending their lead to 28-12 at halftime. Porter notched his second try, while flanker Will Evans added another. Bordeaux-Begles responded with scores from Maxime Lucu and Romain Buros.In the second half, Lucu's positional switch to fly-half proved pivotal. He orchestrated a comeback, reducing the deficit to 28-19 with a try from Nicolas Depoortere. Lucu's accurate kicking kept Bordeaux-Begles in contention, but Harlequins remained resilient.Alex Dombrandt's try for Harlequins was countered by Louis Bielle-Biarrey's score for Bordeaux-Begles. The lead changed hands twice in a frantic final quarter, with Madosh Tambwe and Tyrone Green crossing for their respective teams.With just four minutes remaining, Tambwe's second try set up a potential match-winning conversion for Lucu. However, the French playmaker's attempt sailed wide, handing Harlequins a memorable victory.Harlequins will now face either Toulouse or Exeter in the semi-finals, while Bordeaux-Begles' European campaign comes to an end. The English side's triumph is a testament to their attacking flair and unwavering belief, as they continue to make history in the Champions Cup.