Women break 44-year jinx, win Asiad hockey gold
Alongside hockey glory, Indian boxers, wrestlers and archers powered a remarkable medal haul on one of the biggest days for the country
Indian athletes stood atop the Asian Games podium six times on Friday. On a day of gold medals rush, the women’s hockey team emerged winners, defeating defending champions China in the final, ending the 44-year-old drought.
Boxers Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Lovlina Borgohain punched their way for the gold medal besides Sujeet starring in wrestling. Lovlina Borgohain won the coveted medal for the first time on her birthday. The women’s recurve team’s stunning win over 10-time Olympic champions South Korea for a historic gold headlined a highly productive day for the country in the archery competition. It was India’s best achievement
This sterling performance by the Indian sportspersons is praiseworthy as the Asia Games are considered the most competitive after the Olympics.
While the outstanding show by our sportspersons deserves all the accolade, it is hockey which rules the hearts of the nation. Our women ended a 44-year wait for the Asian Games women’s hockey gold and qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with a performance built on one stunning strike and an extraordinary rearguard action, beating Olympic silver-medallists China 1-0 in the final.
Lalremsiami’s superb reverse-stick strike in the 10th minute gave India the lead, but it was goalkeeper Bichu Devi’s heroics and defence that refused to yield that ultimately settled the final. With China throwing everything at them, India absorbed wave after wave of pressure, putting their bodies on the line to protect their slender advantage and complete a memorable triumph.
For India, the victory delivered two long-awaited prizes — their first Asian Games women’s hockey gold since 1982 and direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics, a key target for coach Sjoerd Marijne’s side.
The final began an hour behind schedule after the team buses of both teams were caught in a traffic snarl caused by an accident unrelated to either side. But once the contest got underway, India made their mark early and then showed the resilience to withstand everything China threw at them.
The breakthrough came when Sakshi Rana threaded a pass into the circle to find Lalremsiami near the goal.
The forward made no mistake, unleashing a fierce reverse-stick hit on the run that sent the ball crashing into the upper netting, leaving the Chinese goalkeeper with no chance.
It was a goal of outstanding quality and an early statement of intent from India, who had begun the contest with purpose against an opponent that had claimed silver at the Paris Olympics.
China enjoyed marginally greater possession in the opening exchanges, but India’s compact defensive structure made it difficult for them to create clear openings.
China gradually began to push forward, probing down the flanks through Li Hong, Zou Meirong and Tan Jinzhuang. Their attacks, however, lacked the depth and support needed to seriously test Bichu Devi.
China earned their first penalty corner in the 18th minute, but India read the indirect variation well, with a defender intercepting the routine.
The second attempt was directed towards the goal but was comfortably dealt with by Bichu Devi. The goalkeeper, however, was called into action in the 24th minute when China were awarded a penalty stroke after Lalremsiami was penalised for obstructing a forward from behind.
When the defending champions were presented with a chance to draw level, veteran Savita Punia was at the goal and produced a crucial save, diving sharply to her left to keep out the low shot and preserve India’s lead.
It was a defining moment in the final, with the goalkeeper displaying the composure and reflexes that would prove vital to India’s resistance.
