India vs China, Highlights Hockey Asian Games: History made! India end 44-year drought, win 1-0 for gold; LA spot sealed

First gold medal since 1982, for the women’s team. Lalremsiami scored the only goal of the match. And what a goal it was. From left right into the far corner. Salima Tete’s work in the midfield led to the goal. Proud moment for Team India. With this win, they have qualified for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Playing with 11 outfield players. Can India score another? Just two minutes to go.

Can India maintain their lead right up to the end? Right now they are looking good! Fans are cheering on the team passionately. India on the counter as the Chinese have started going all out. India can make the most of this over-aggression and desperation on the Chinese’s part.

Salima Tete is back from her medical treatment! Fans in the stands are jubilant seeing her. So far in the final quarter, India have looked very good. Is it the Tete impact?

It’s just the Indian defence that’s getting in the way. The final 15 minutes get underway. Another reminder that India have not won an Asian Games gold since 1982, their only to date.

Lovely shot from a Chinese player from the left across the goal but she couldn’t find any player to tap it in. A couple of minutes to go. India need to keep up the good work. It’s over, the third quarter. India continue to lead 1-0. The Lalremsiami goal came in the first quarter.

And a little over six minutes to go in the third quarter. Salima Tete is not back yet. That’s worrying for India. She is a very important player. If there is a fracture or something, god forbid, it will be a massive blow to the Indians and their gold quest.

Come on, Indian defenders! Retake, another retake. Another penalty stroke for China. Can Savita do it again? It’s being reviewed. It’s overturned. Excellent stuff by Navneet. It’s a PC. Excellent save by the first rusher. Salima Tete it is. She has hurt herself in the process and now she is walking out for medical treatment. Baljeet replaces her.

India lead by a goal at half-time thanks to the stunner by Lalremsiami, who is playing her 200th international. But a goal cushion is not a big one in hockey

Both coaches, Sjoerd Marijne and Alyson Annan, know each other very well. They also will know what strategies they will be employing in the second quarter

Annan succeeded Marijne as the head coach of the Netherlands women’s national team in January 2016. They have also frequently crossed paths as opposing international coaches and top figures in global hockey

Despite leading in all important parameters, China trail 1-0. That’s how it goes sometimes. They created some good chances but couldn’t convert them. Then there was the penalty stroke miss. The third quarter gets underway, by the way.

There is some injury concern in the Chinese camp. By the way, there is a green card for a Chinese player. Why? We don’t know yet. It’s Dan Wen. That’s the last action of the second quarter, in a manner of speaking. India continue to lead 1-0.

For a push from behind. Big save. Savita dives to her left to deny the Chinese player. The match so far has gone totally India’s way. Shortly after there is another Chinese attack in front of goal but once again the Indian defence is equal to the task.

The Indian defence has to come good. They go for variation. Another PC awarded. Excellent defensive stuff from Navneet. Things are going India’s way at present. They need some luck too. As of now, they can’t complain on that front.

What a fantastic last few minutes of the first quarter India had. They will look to play in the same vein in the second quarter which has got underway.

Another opportunity! Navneet goes wide. Deepika wasn’t there. It could have been 2-0 just like that. The Chinese are under pressure big time. Don’t want to write this so early but India have not won a hockey gold medal since 1982, their only Asian Games triumph to date.

Playing in her 200th game, Lalremsiami rises to the occasion to score a goal. Salima Tete’s good work in the midfield led to the goal. Excellent stuff. Shot into the far corner from the left. Just the start that India needed.

Matches played: 28

India wins: 11

China wins: 12

Draws: 5

After a delay of one hour. China are livelier at the start. The Indian defence has a big test today. The Chinese have started applying pressure already. India also respond with a circle penetration of their own.

She is playing her 200th game for India today. National anthems get underway. It’s China first. The players are soberly singing along. It’s India now. A lot of passion in the singing of Indian players. Dead serious they are.

The match will now kick off at 4:30 pm. Seems like the Indian team has not reached the venue yet. This is so disappointing. At least my enthusiasm has fizzled out a bit.

Apparently, there has been an accident involving other vehicles, and the Indian team bus has got stuck on the highway because of that. A couple of months ago, the Indian cricket team also reached the venue late in England because of traffic issues.

The match will now start at 04:15 pm. There is no word out as to why it has been done. Stay tuned. Another match involving the Indian women’s team had been rescheduled a few days ago. Was it the semifinal? Or was it involving the men’s hockey team?

Ishika Chaudhary, Nikki Pradhan, Bichu Kharibam, Lalremsiami, Jyoti, Sushila Pukhrambam, Navneet Kaur, Sunelita Toppo, Tete, Neha and Deepika.

The winners will get direct entry into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Basically, if you win and qualify today, you can chill in the rest of 2026, the entire 2027 and quite a few months of 2028. That’s how important this match is. Rest assured, both teams are going to fight tooth and nail.

Both teams played out a 2-2 draw in August. The Indian women’s team will have to look no further than that game for inspiration. They have done it before and they can do it again. Navneet and Deepika were on target that day. For China, Zhang Ying and Ma Ning scored.