New Delhi, October 2 (TNA) India defeated defending champions China 1-0 in the women’s hockey final at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday to win the gold medal and secure a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal in the 10th minute, marking her 200th appearance for India with a crucial strike. Her goal gave India an early lead in a closely contested final and ultimately proved enough to settle the match.
China repeatedly threatened the Indian circle during the later stages, but India’s defence held firm to protect the narrow advantage. Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia also made a crucial penalty-stroke save as the Indian team resisted sustained pressure from the hosts.
The victory ended India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games women’s hockey gold. India had last won the title at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi and had finished runners-up in 1998 and 2018. The gold medal also booked India’s direct berth at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, allowing the team to begin its Olympic preparations without having to go through the qualification tournament.
The final in Aichi-Nagoya was delayed by around 45 minutes after the teams’ buses were caught in traffic on their way to the venue. Despite the disruption, India maintained its composure and held on for a historic victory.