'Don't know if we'll be able to sleep tonight': Top-scorer Deepika after India's historic Asian Games gold, LA 2028 qualification
India's women's hockey team clinches historic Asian Games gold by defeating China, securing direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
In a monumental achievement for Indian sports, the Indian women's hockey team has clinched a historic gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. By defeating the reigning Asian champions, China, with a 1-0 victory, the team has ended a staggering 44-year wait for an Asian Games medal in women's hockey.
A Historic Triumph in Aichi-Nagoya
The victory comes as a massive shock to the hockey world, as the world No. 8 ranked Indian side managed to stun the world No. 4 ranked China in a fiercely contested final. The decisive moment came in the 10th minute when Lalremsiami scored a crucial field goal, securing the gold and marking India's first women's hockey podium finish at the Asian Games since 1982.
Deepika Sehrawat: The Goal-Scoring Sensation
Tournament top-scorer Deepika Sehrawat was overwhelmed by the achievement, finishing the campaign with an incredible 21 goals. Her performance included a record-breaking nine goals against Thailand, surpassing her own previous record of eight goals set against Uzbekistan in the opening match.
“Winning the gold medal—and winning it after so many years—is a matter of immense pride for the entire country and for women’s hockey,” Deepika said following the match. “Breaking a multi-year record like this... I don’t know if we will even be able to sleep tonight; it’s just such a special moment right now.”
Deepika emphasized the team's mental toughness, noting that the squad was focused on executing their plan and refused to give up until the final whistle. She dedicated the historic win to her family, her former coaches, and the support staff who helped her navigate through various injuries.
Defensive Resilience and Strategy
While the attack provided the goals, the defense stood firm against a relentless Chinese side. Goalkeeper Bichu Devi revealed that the team had specifically prepared for China's aggressive start.
“From the very beginning, we knew they would come at us hard. We knew China would play aggressively in the first 5 or 10 minutes. We were prepared for that. We had already discussed among ourselves how to handle their aggression and how to hold our position,” Devi explained. She added that the team felt overwhelmed with joy, stating, "All the hard work we put in has paid off today."
Eyes Set on Los Angeles 2028
This gold medal is more than just a continental triumph; it carries significant weight for the future of the sport in India. The victory secures direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, providing a massive boost to a squad that narrowly missed out on the Paris 2024 Olympics after a strong fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
India's performance in Aichi-Nagoya has been nothing short of dominant, highlighted by the prolific scoring of Deepika Sehrawat (21 goals) and teammate Navneet Kaur (10 goals). This gold contributes to India's impressive 76th medal haul at the games, which includes 16 golds, 25 silvers, and 35 bronzes.