India beat hosts Japan 3-1 to register fourth straight Asian Games win
India's women's hockey team defeated hosts Japan 3-1 in a Pool B match at the Asian Games in Japan on Friday, September 25, 2026, recording their fourth consecutive victory and moving closer to a place in the semifinals. Lalremsiami opened the scoring in the fifth minute while Ishika Chaudhary and Navneet Kaur also found the net; Shiho Kobayakawa got Japan's goal.
The result extended a dominant start to India's campaign, following 19-0 and 17-1 wins over Uzbekistan and Indonesia respectively and a 20-1 victory against Thailand. Those margins have placed India at the top of Pool B and underlined their strong scoring form in the tournament so far. The victory against Japan continued that sequence and strengthened their position in the group.
India set the tone early, with Lalremsiami converting a field goal in the fifth minute to put the visitors ahead. Japan's defence absorbed sustained pressure and produced a few openings, but struggled to break down India's organised backline. The hosts managed some moments in attack but could not convert them into goals during the opening exchanges.
India's penalty-corner execution was patchy initially, with only one of their first five opportunities yielding a goal. The visitors then earned three more corners in quick succession late in the first half. Ishika Chaudhary doubled the lead just before half-time by converting from a rebound after Navneet Kaur's initial attempt was kept out.
The third quarter saw India extend their advantage when Navneet Kaur finished after some clever stickwork to make it 3-0 in the 36th minute. India’s defence was particularly effective in that period, repeatedly intercepting Japan's attacks and restricting the hosts' time inside the circle. That defensive control limited Japan's ability to mount a sustained comeback.
Japan reduced the deficit early in the final quarter when Shiho Kobayakawa unleashed a tomahawk from the top of the circle in the 46th minute, beating veteran goalkeeper Savita. India had another penalty corner four minutes later but failed to convert it, and Japan earned a late opportunity of their own. India's defence held firm to close out the match and secure the win.
India will complete their Pool B campaign against Singapore on Sunday; the victory in Tokyo was their fourth straight in the pool and moves them closer to securing a place in the semifinals.