India’s women’s hockey team ended a 44-year wait for Asian Games gold with a 1-0 victory over defending champions China in the final of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games on Friday. The win gave India its second Asian Games women’s hockey title, with the previous one coming in 1982.
Lalremsiami provided the decisive moment in the 10th minute, scoring with a powerful reverse-stick strike after a move initiated by captain Salima Tete. China dominated possession for long periods and repeatedly threatened the Indian circle, but India’s defence stood firm. Goalkeeper Savita Punia produced a crucial penalty-stroke save in the second quarter to preserve the lead, while further defensive interventions helped India keep China scoreless.
The triumph also secured India a direct qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The victory was particularly significant for Lalremsiami, who scored the winner on her 200th senior international appearance. India’s gold was its 16th at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, while the women’s hockey team’s title marked its return to the top of the Asian Games podium after more than four decades.