India v China in Asian Games women's hockey final for gold and LA Olympic berth
India will meet defending champions China in the women's hockey final at the Asian Games on Friday, with continental gold and a direct qualification place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at stake.
India are chasing their first Asian Games gold in 44 years, having won their only title in 1982, while China will seek to retain the crown. China’s head coach is Annan Alyson with Tao Zhinan as manager; India’s head coach is Marijne Sjoerd with Yadav Raina as manager. Match officials named for the final include Kim Yoon Seon (Korea) and Delforge Laurine (Belgium) as umpires, Rashid Haroon (Pakistan) as reserve umpire, Lim Hong-Zhen (Singapore) as video umpire, Takano Tei (Japan) and Kim Seong Eun (Korea) as judges, and Chen Yixin Edith (Singapore) as technical officer.
Both teams topped their pools with perfect records before surviving challenging semifinals to reach the title match. China were held 0-0 by hosts Japan in regulation time and advanced by winning the shootout 4-2. India beat South Korea 2-0 after Ishika Chaudhary produced a late third-quarter breakthrough and captain Salima Tete scored in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
India’s campaign has relied on defensive resilience and varied attack, with goalkeepers Savita and Bichu Devi praised for their support at the back. Deepika has been the tournament’s leading scorer with 21 goals in six matches, including 19 from penalty corners, while Navneet Kaur has added 10 goals, seven from open play. China’s forward line includes Zhong Jiaqi with nine goals and Chen Yi and Zhang Ying with seven goals each.
India head coach Sjoerd Marijne stressed composure after the semifinal, saying: "For us it was really important to stay calm and have patience, and I think we did that really well." He added: "We have confidence, but we also realise that China is a very good team. They are still No. 4 in the world." Marijne also said India would look to improve on aspects of their semifinal performance.
India carry momentum from earlier results this year, having won the FIH Nations Cup and recorded their best-ever finish at the FIH World Cup in 52 years by placing fifth at the 2026 edition in Belgium and the Netherlands. During that World Cup campaign India held world No. 4 China to a goalless draw in Amsterdam.
India’s women have reached the Asian Games final twice since 1982, finishing runners-up in 1998 and 2018 after losses to South Korea and Japan respectively, and the current squad now has the chance to change that record.
A win in Friday’s final would deliver India their second women's hockey gold at the Asian Games and also secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
