India Women Beat China 1-0 to Win Asian Games Hockey Gold After 44 Years

India's women's hockey team won the Asian Games 2026 gold medal, beating defending champions China 1-0 in the final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Friday, October 2. It is India's first Asian Games women's hockey gold since 1982, a wait of 44 years, and their second title overall. The win also earns India a direct place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Lalremsiami scored the only goal in the 10th minute with a reverse hit into the roof of the net. Salima Tete started the move and Sakshi made the final pass. India nearly doubled the lead three minutes later, but Navneet's slap hit from a penalty corner went narrowly wide.

Goalkeeper Savita Punia then kept India in front. After a push by Sushila in the 23rd minute, China were awarded a penalty stroke. Zhang Ying took it, and Savita dived to her left to make a one-handed save.

China kept pressing after the break. A second penalty stroke was awarded when a Navneet block hit her foot, but India reviewed it successfully and it was changed to a penalty corner. Salima went off injured in the third quarter and returned in the 47th minute. China removed their goalkeeper late on, and Savita made another save to protect the lead.

India reached the final with a 2-0 win over South Korea, while China beat Japan in a shootout in the other semi-final. Japan took bronze.

The gold gives India eight women's hockey medals at the Asian Games: two golds, two silvers and four bronzes. India's tally in Nagoya now stands at 16 gold, 25 silver and 35 bronze, 76 medals in all, fifth overall. The men's team plays Malaysia for gold on Saturday, October 3, at 3:30 PM IST.