Archive · 2 Oct 2026
India Women Win Asian Games Hockey Gold, Secure LA Qualification
India’s women’s hockey team won the Asian Games gold medal.
They beat China by one goal to zero in the final.
Lalremsiami scored India’s goal early in the match.
China tried hard to score, but India’s captain, Savita Punia, made an important penalty-stroke save.
India had not won this Asian Games hockey title for 44 years.
The win also qualified India for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Deepika scored 21 goals during the tournament, more than any other player.
She said the team’s strong mindset helped them win.
She dedicated the medal to her family, coaches, teammates and supporters.
India defeated China 1-0 in the women’s hockey final at the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, Japan.
Lalremsiami scored the only goal in the 10th minute with a reverse hit.
Captain Savita Punia saved a penalty stroke as India resisted sustained Chinese pressure.
The victory ended India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games women’s hockey gold medal and secured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Deepika was the tournament’s leading scorer with 21 goals and called the Olympic qualification a proud moment.
- Who
- India’s women’s hockey team, led by captain Savita Punia, defeated China; Deepika was the tournament’s top scorer.
- What
- India won the Asian Games women’s hockey gold medal 1-0 and qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- When
- The final was played on Friday; the articles do not specify the year of the Asian Games.
- Where
- Kakamigahara, Japan.
- Why
- India won the final through Lalremsiami’s goal and Savita Punia’s penalty-stroke save, ending a 44-year wait for the title.
- Final score
- India beat China 1-0.
- Winning goal
- Lalremsiami scored in the 10th minute with a powerful reverse hit.
- Goalkeeper
- Captain Savita Punia made a crucial one-handed penalty-stroke save.
- Olympic qualification
- India secured a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
- Title drought
- India had last won the Asian Games women’s hockey title in 1982.
- Deepika’s goals
- Deepika scored 21 goals, making her the tournament’s highest scorer.
- Previous finals
- India reached the finals in 1998 and 2018 but won silver on both occasions.