India beat South Korea 2–0 to reach Asian Games women’s hockey final
India’s women’s hockey team reached the 2026 Asian Games gold-medal match with a 2–0 semifinal win over South Korea in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Wednesday, September 30. Ishika broke a goalless deadlock late in the third quarter, and captain Salima Tete added a second goal early in the fourth. India will meet defending champions China in the final on Friday, October 2.
The scoreline took time to reflect India’s attacking pressure. South Korea goalkeeper Seoyeon Lee repeatedly kept India out during the first half, saving attempts from open play and penalty corners. India continued to press rather than retreat after those missed chances, but the teams went into halftime level at 0–0.
How India broke through
South Korea threatened with an early ball into India’s circle, but India soon took control of the attacking play. Deepika had a penalty-corner attempt saved in the second minute. Navneet Kaur also tested Lee after combining with Baljeet on the left, then saw another effort turned away. India kept finding routes into the circle without finding a finish.
The pattern continued in the second quarter. India won further penalty corners, including one following a successful video referral late in the half, yet South Korea blocked or saved the resulting attempts. Lee’s work in goal was central to keeping the semifinal scoreless despite India’s sustained possession and territory.
The decisive change came in the 44th minute. From a penalty corner, Deepika shaped as though she would take a drag-flick but instead directed the move toward Ishika. Waiting in position, Ishika finished first time to put India ahead. The goal rewarded India’s persistence and forced South Korea to chase a match in which they had spent long stretches defending.
Salima extended the lead in the 48th minute, making a run into the right side of the circle and finishing the move for 2–0. India still had to protect its advantage. A later penalty-corner sequence brought more chances at the South Korean end, while South Korea earned a penalty corner in the 59th minute. India defended that late opportunity to complete the clean sheet.
China await in Friday’s final
China reached the gold-medal match by beating hosts Japan 4–2 in a shootout after their semifinal ended 0–0 in regulation time. The final therefore pairs an India side that found a way past an outstanding goalkeeper with a China side that survived a tight, scoreless contest. China are the defending Asian Games women’s hockey champions.
India entered the knockout stage after winning all five of its pool matches, including a 3–1 victory over Japan and a 7–0 win against Singapore. The semifinal was a different test: chances did not immediately turn into goals, and India had to remain patient until the final minutes of the third quarter. Friday’s match offers the team a chance to turn that unbeaten run into gold.
India’s only previous Asian Games gold in women’s hockey came at New Delhi in 1982. Since then, the team has won medals at several editions, including silver in 2018 and bronze at the Games held in 2023. Reaching this final guarantees India another medal; beating China would end a 44-year wait for a second title.
Final date, time and viewing details
The India–China women’s hockey final is scheduled for Friday, October 2, at 3:30 p.m. IST, equivalent to 7 p.m. in Japan. Asian Games coverage in India is available through Sony Sports Network on television and SonyLIV online. Viewers should check the broadcaster’s listings nearer the match for the specific channel and stream, as coverage can be assigned across multiple events.
