India’s only Asian Games gold in the women’s event came in 1982. They have reached the final twice since then, in 1998 and 2018, but settled for silver after defeats to South Korea and Japan. The current side has an opportunity to rewrite that history after a strong run in 2026, which included victory at the FIH Nations Cup and a fifth-place finish at the World Cup — India’s best in 52 years.
The World Cup also offered a confidence boost, as India held world No. 4 China, the reigning Olympic silver medallists, to a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam.
Both teams reached the final unbeaten in the pool stage but had to dig deep in the semifinals. India defeated South Korea 2-0, with Ishika Chaudhary breaking the deadlock late in the third quarter before captain Salima Tete added a second. China drew 0-0 against hosts Japan before winning the shootout 4-2.
India coach Sjoerd Marijne has stressed the importance of staying calm while acknowledging China’s quality and experience. India will rely on their defensive strength, including goalkeepers Savita and Bichu Devi, and the tournament-leading scoring form of Deepika, who has 21 goals. Navneet Kaur has added 10.
China’s attacking options include Zhong Jiaqi, with nine goals, and Chen Yi and Zhang Ying, who have seven apiece. With continental glory and Olympic qualification at stake, India face a defining test.
