India women's hockey team is one victory away from ending a 44-year-old drought of an Asian Games gold, as they went on to beat strong South Korea 2-0 to storm into the final on Wednesday. The in-form Indian team played immaculately and maintained the momentum from the very start, and now they will play for the gold.
For India, Ishika Chaudhary (44th minute) and skipper Salima Tete (48th) scored the goals.
If Indian women manage to win the gold, they will become only the second team from India to win a hockey gold medal in the Asian Games, as their previous title victory came back in the 1982 New Delhi Games.
Also Read | Asian Games 2026: Indian men's hockey team hammer Bangladesh 10-0, set up Pakistan semi-final
India will be up against a tough opponent, defending champions China, on Friday. The Chinese team ended Japan's dream with a 4-2 win in a shoot-out after both sides failed to score a goal in the 60 minutes of play. Now, Japan and Korea will take on each other for the bronze medal.
It was India which dominated the proceedings completely in the first two quarters and also managed to secure eight penalty corners, but the Korean defence proved up to the task and did not let them run away with it.
India continued to dominate possession and create chances, but South Korea's goalkeeper repeatedly stood between them and the opening goal. The Indian side earned a series of penalty corners, including three early in the second quarter, but could not convert them as the Korean defence held firm.
Also Read | Savita Punia becomes India's most-capped women's hockey player
India had another set piece in the 21st minute, their sixth of the match, but a poor injection ended the chance. Two more penalty corners followed in the final two minutes of the first half, yet South Korea remained resolute to keep the scores level at the break.
India maintained the pressure after the change of ends, but South Korea's disciplined defensive structure continued to frustrate them. The breakthrough finally came in the 44th minute when Ishika found the net from a deflection following a clever indirect variation involving Deepika from a penalty corner.
India quickly doubled their advantage four minutes later. Salima Tete produced a brilliant solo run down the right before finishing a field goal to make it 2-0.
India had chances to extend their lead, but two consecutive penalty corners in the 57th minute went begging, with the Korean goalkeeper again denying Deepika.
South Korea mounted a late challenge, earning four successive penalty corners in the closing stages, but India's defence held firm to preserve the clean sheet and seal a place in the final.
