India women's hockey team beat China 1-0 to win Asian Games gold after 44 years
A first-half goal by Lalremsiami was enough as India defeated China in the final, and the win also earns a direct berth at the 2028 Olympics.
The Indian women's hockey team won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, beating China 1-0 in the final. India has won this gold after a full 44 years. With the win, the team has also secured an Olympic berth.
The Indian women last won Asian Games gold in 1982. The team won silver in 1998 and reached the final again in 2018. This time the team's performance was outstanding. By winning gold, India has booked a direct place at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
In the final, India kept the pressure on China from the start and attacked continuously, which paid off. Baljeet Kaur was shown a green card in the sixth minute. Lalremsiami then scored in the 10th minute to give India a 1-0 lead. It was Lalremsiami's 200th international match.
India had a chance to double the lead but could not convert a penalty corner. Even so, strong defence helped India hold on to the lead.
In the second quarter China tried to fight back and played aggressively. China were also awarded penalty strokes, but Savita Punia made a strong save to deny them an equaliser. The Chinese players kept attacking but could not break through the Indian defence.
India's defence stayed solid in the third and fourth quarters as well, and gave China no chance to score. Captain Salima Tete was injured in the third quarter, but the team still did not let China take control. She returned to the field in the fourth quarter, and under her captaincy the team maintained its hold on the game and won the gold medal.
