India’s women’s hockey team has won the Asian Games gold medal. They beat defending champions China 1-0 in the final on October 2. The win ends a 44-year wait.

Lalremsiami scored the only goal in the 10th minute. It was her 200th international appearance. Sakshi Rana set up the goal. The forward’s reverse hit flew into the roof of the net.

India’s last women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games came in 1982. India had lost finals in 1998 and 2018.

Goalkeeper Savita Punia was superb. She made a crucial penalty-stroke save as China pressed for an equaliser. China pulled their goalkeeper late in the game. India held firm.

The win also secures direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. China were the Olympic silver medallists in Paris.

India arrived unbeaten. They had drawn 2-2 with China at the World Cup earlier this year. That result removed some of the psychological baggage, reports said.

Head coach Sjoerd Marijne returned to the women’s programme earlier this year. India finished fifth at the 2026 World Cup. They went unbeaten at the Nations Cup.