Kakamigahara, October 2: India won the women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games 2026 on Friday, beating defending champions China 1-0 in the final. It is India’s first Asian Games gold in women’s hockey since 1982, and it also books their place at the LA 2028 Olympics.
Lalremsiami scored the only goal in the 10th minute, on her 200th international appearance. Goalkeeper Savita saved a penalty stroke in the second quarter as China, ranked fourth in the world, pressed for an equaliser that never came.
Lalremsiami’s reverse-stick strike
China had more of the ball early on, but India made the first real opening in the fourth minute. Baljeet Kaur and Ishika worked their way into the circle before a Chinese defender cut out the chance with a flat-stick tackle.
China appealed for a penalty corner for a foot in the seventh minute, but the umpire played on. A minute later Baljeet was shown a green card, leaving India with 10 players for two minutes.
India scored while a player down. Captain Salima Tete set off on a run and combined with Sakshi Rana inside the circle. Sakshi found Lalremsiami, who hit a reverse-stick shot from a tight angle into the Chinese goal.
Three minutes later Baljeet and Navneet Kaur played a one-two down the right to win a penalty corner. Navneet went for her usual direct hit, and it flew just wide.
China finished the first quarter with 55 per cent of possession and eight circle entries to India’s four.
Savita saves the stroke
China pushed harder in the second quarter. In the 19th minute they tried a variation at a penalty corner to set up a first-time deflection, but Indian sticks got in the way. Navneet then cleared off the line from another corner.
Two minutes later the umpire awarded China a penalty stroke after a move inside the Indian circle. India did not ask for a video referral, and Savita dived to her left to save it.
In the 24th minute Shilpi Dabas cut out a Chinese move near the goalmouth, with Savita covering the near post. India went in 1-0 up at half-time.
Referral overturns second stroke
China won a penalty corner in the 33rd minute, and after a second effort on goal the umpire gave another penalty stroke, ruling that the ball had hit Navneet’s foot. India referred it, and the review reduced the stroke to a penalty corner.
Salima blocked the flick with her flat stick but hurt her right hand and went off for treatment.
China’s passing grew loose and the unforced errors crept in. India’s midfield was less fluent than in the first half, but the defence held. After three quarters China had 21 circle entries to India’s nine, and the score was still 1-0.
China threw everything forward in the last quarter. India defended in numbers and saw out the final 15 minutes to take the gold.
