India reaches Asian Games 2026 Women's Hockey Final
India's women's hockey team reaches the Asian Games 2026 final after a commanding 2-0 victory over South Korea.
The Indian women's hockey team has stormed into the gold medal match of the Asian Games 2026 after a decisive 2-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday. The win ensures that the Indian side will compete for the top spot in the tournament, setting up a high-stakes showdown against China.
India breaks the deadlock in second half
The match remained a tense, goalless stalemate throughout the first half, with both teams struggling to find a breakthrough. However, the intensity shifted dramatically in the second half as India took control of the game.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute when Ishika successfully converted a penalty corner, giving India a well-deserved lead. The momentum stayed firmly with the Indian side, and they doubled their advantage just four minutes later in the 47th minute.
Following a precise cross from Salima Tete into the circle, the ball took a crucial deflection off a South Korean defender's stick and trickled into the net. India maintained their composure and defensive discipline for the rest of the match to secure the 2-0 win and their place in the final.
Men's Doubles: A disappointing exit for India
While the women's hockey team celebrated their success, the Indian men's doubles campaign met a disappointing end. For the first time since 1998, India failed to secure a medal in this event as both pairs were knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Anirudh Chandrasekar and N Balaji fought valiantly in a nail-biting three-set encounter against China’s Jiang Fumin and Zhang Tianhui, eventually falling 7-6(4), 6-7(7), 8-10. Similarly, Yuki Bhambri and Dhakshineswar Suresh were eliminated after a tough 6-7(5), 3-6 loss to Chinese Taipei’s Ho Chen-jui and Hsu Yu-hsiou.
The quarterfinal exits mark a significant drought for India in the men's doubles category, extending a medal wait that has lasted since the 1998 games.