The Indian women’s hockey team clinched the Asian Games gold medal, defeating China 1-0 in the final on Friday (October 2). A staggering back-hander from Lalremsiami shot India into the lead in the opening quarter, while Savita Punia pulled off an equally spectacular save off a penalty stroke in the second.
The Chinese dominated possession for large periods of play but were repeatedly staved off by a resolute Indian defence. Shilpi Dabas played an outstanding role in the Indian circle even as Salima Tete injured herself running down the Chinese drag flicks.
India have thus won the Asian Games women’s hockey gold for the first time in 44 years.
Fan Yunxia set up a Chinese move in the second minute, with Bichu Devi called into action early. At the other end, Ishika was dispossessed by Ou Zixia a minute later, with both sides refusing to hold back.
Alyson Annan’s team then had the upper hand, effecting a series of midfield turnovers, even as the Indian deep defence made amends, with Shilpi Dabas having to work hard.
India, however, broke the deadlock against the run of play. Lalremsiami picked up on a cross from Salima Tete, slamming a stupendous lofted tomahawk into the back of the net in the tenth minute.
Ishika and Sunelita Toppo were unable to deflect Navneet Kaur‘s slap shot into the Chinese off an Indian penalty corner in the 13th minute.
China won their first penalty corner in the 19th minute. Navneet Kaur deflected Ma Ning’s drag flick out of harm’s way from the goal line.
A perceived defensive error from Sushila Chanu, who appeared to exert a nudge from behind on a Chinese striker in the circle, helped China win a penalty stroke in the 21st minute. Savita Punia pulled off an incredible save to help her side retain the lead.
A period of intense pressure from the Chinese led to a penalty corner in the 33rd minute after the ball struck Nikki Pradhan’s foot in the circle.
Salima Tete ran down the initial penalty corner before the ball struck Navneet Kaur’s body on the line off the re-award. A penalty stroke awarded by the on-field umpire was overturned since Bichu Devi was positioned behind Navneet Kaur.
Salima Tete injured her finger in an attempt to thwart the penalty corner that followed.
The Chinese unleashed a wave of attacks in the third quarter but were thwarted by an overworked Indian deep defence.
China took goalkeeper Liu Ping off in the 57th minute but were unable to find the elusive equaliser.
Indian girls register eighth podium in Asian Games women’s hockey
Having won gold in 1982, when women’s hockey was first introduced into the Asian Games, the Indians were back on the podium in the Seoul edition in 1986, where they settled for bronze.
India won silver in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, losing 1-2 to South Korea in the final. The 2006 Doha Games witnessed India clinch yet another bronze medal.
A bronze in 2014 was followed by a silver medal in 2018 when Sjoerd Marijne’s team made it to the final before being beaten 1-2 by Japan. India beat Japan 2-1 to win the bronze in Hangzhou 2023 before winning gold in 2026.
Edited by Subhashish Majumdar