India Ends 44-Year Wait for Asian Games Hockey Gold

India's women have won Asian Games hockey gold for the first time since 1982, ending a 44 year wait. In the final on Friday, 2 October, at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, they beat China 1-0.

Lalremsiami got the goal in the 10th minute. China were defending champions and hadn't conceded once in the pool stage until then. India were the first team to score against them, and the rest of the match was defending.

Holding the Lead

China kept coming. They chased the equaliser all evening  and were awarded a penalty stroke at one point. Savita Punia saved it, and that save is honestly why India still led at the end.

The defenders did plenty too. In the 24th minute Shilpi Dabas stopped a dangerous move near the goal. Ishika Chaudhary and Sushila Chanu cleared the ball every time China got forward. Tete had her fingers taped and was still first out at penalty corners. By the fourth quarter China had pushed extra players up the pitch, and India just stayed compact until the final whistle.

Getting to the Final

Pool B was lopsided. India won all five matches: 19-0 against Uzbekistan, 17-1 against Indonesia, 20-1 against Thailand, 3-1 against hosts Japan and 7-0 against Singapore. That's 66 goals scored and 2 conceded.

The 30 September semi-final against South Korea was nothing like that. India dominated the first half and had no goal to show for it, because the Korean goalkeeper saved everything. Ishika finally scored in the 44th minute and Tete added a second in the 48th, so India won 2-0. In the other semi-final, China beat Japan in a shootout.

Lalremsiami's Story

Lalremsiami Hmarzote is from Mizoram and comes from a farming family. At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta she became the first sportsperson from her state to win a medal there. It was silver. Eight years later it's gold, and her goal won it.

What the Captain Said

The squad landed in Bengaluru to a loud welcome at Kempegowda International Airport. Salima Tete told PTI, "We deserve this victory." The team had gone into the final fully confident, she said, and keeping a one-goal lead for the country was a proud moment, even against a very good China side.

What This Gold Means

India had won this title only once before, in 1982. Plenty of campaigns since then fell short of gold. Plenty of players spent years in the national setup and never got a day like this. This squad has now won it for them too.

There's more ahead as well. LA 2028 Olympic qualification is already settled, so the team can plan the next two years without that worry.

From all of us at SheInspire Magazine, congratulations to every player, coach and support staff member behind this win. India waited 44 years for this, and every girl who watched now knows what's possible. Best of luck for LA 2028. Go and win another.