India’s women’s hockey team stands on the brink of history, just one victory away from winning the Asian Games gold medal for the first time in 44 years. They will face the reigning champions, China, in the finals in Kakamigahara on Friday. This match not only holds the promise of glory but also serves as a gateway to the LA 2028 Olympics.
The last time India secured the Asian Games title was back in 1982 when women’s hockey was included in the tournament for the first time. Since that triumph, the team has reached the finals in 1998 and 2018, only to return home with silver medals after close losses to South Korea and Japan.
This time, however, the Indian team approaches the final with immense confidence. Under the leadership of Salima Tete, they dominated Pool B, winning all five of their matches and scoring a remarkable 66 goals. They kicked off their campaign with an astonishing 19-0 win against Uzbekistan, followed by a 17-1 victory over Indonesia and then a 20-0 thrashing of Thailand. India also claimed a solid 3-1 victory against hosts Japan, capping off their group stage with a convincing 7-0 win over Singapore.
In the semi-finals, India faced a tough challenge from South Korea. The match required patience and strategy, as the Koreans were determined to neutralize India’s attacking threats. Ishika finally broke the deadlock late in the third quarter, followed by a goal from captain Salima Tete in the fourth, leading India to a 2-0 victory. “It was essential for us to stay calm and patient, and we executed that well,” said India’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne after the match.
China, the defending champions, have also been impressive throughout the tournament. They won all five of their matches in Pool A without letting in a single goal and scored 46 times. Their victories included a 13-0 win over Bangladesh and a 16-0 rout against Kazakhstan. However, their semi-final against Japan was a tough test, finishing in a goalless draw before they secured their final spot through a 4-2 win in the shootout.
World-ranked fourth, China is expected to be India’s biggest challenge in this final. Marijne acknowledged their strengths, saying, “While we are confident, we know that China is a very skilled team with a lot of experience.” Earlier this year, India and China faced off in a World Cup match which ended in a 2-2 draw, with Navneet Kaur and Deepika Sehrawat scoring for India.
Deepika has emerged as India’s star player, leading the tournament scoring charts with 21 goals, mostly from penalty corners. Navneet has also contributed significantly with 10 goals. However, Deepika’s role was reduced in the last two matches due to bench time, and the team will hope to have her back in top form for this crucial game.
China counters with their own attacking talent, including Zhong Jiaqi, who has netted nine goals, along with Chen Yi and Zhang Ying each scoring seven.
The final match will see two unbeaten teams that have both won all their group matches. While India has been the offensive powerhouse, China boasts a strong defensive record, having yet to concede a goal in regulation time.
China is also experienced in recent Asian Games history, having secured four out of the last six women’s hockey titles, including a gold medal at Hangzhou 2023.
For India, this match presents a chance to earn their first Asian Games women’s hockey gold in over four decades. With Olympic qualifications also on the line, the significance of this final cannot be understated.
Where to Watch:
The India vs China women’s hockey final will take place at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Friday. Fans in India can watch the match live on Sony LIV, and it will also be broadcasted on Sony Sports 2 and Sony Sports 5. Regional language coverage will be available on Sony Sports 3 in Hindi and Sony Sports 4 in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
