Hangzhou: The Indian women’s hockey team showed resilience under pressure as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Japan in their final Super 4s clash of the Women’s Asia Cup 2025, a result that eventually paved the way for their entry into the championship final.
The hard-fought contest, coupled with China’s narrow win over Korea later in the day, confirmed India’s place in Sunday’s summit clash against the hosts.
The journey through the Super 4s was anything but straightforward for India. They began in style with a 4-2 win over Korea, a performance that displayed attacking flair and confidence.
But against a dominant Chinese side — the Paris Olympics silver medallists — India stumbled, going down 4-2 on Thursday despite spirited efforts. That defeat left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, making the clash against Japan a must-win battle.
In the crunch fixture on Saturday, India struck early through Beauty Dung Dung (7’), who showcased her sharp instincts in front of goal.
But Japan, fighting to stay alive in the tournament, kept pushing until Shiho Kobayakawa (58’) finally found the equaliser. Despite the late setback, India managed to hold on for a draw — enough to keep their chances alive.
From there, all eyes shifted to the final Super 4s match between Korea and China. India’s fate rested on the result, and when China edged Korea 1-0, the equation was clear: India had made it to the final. Japan, on the other hand, saw its campaign end in the stalemate.
Earlier, against China, Mumtaz Khan (38’) was India’s lone scorer, while China struck through Zou Meirong (4’, 56’), Chen Yang (31’), and Tan Jinzhuang (47’).
Coach Harendra Singh’s squad may have fallen short that day, but their fight against a higher-ranked Chinese side showed determination, even if it also highlighted the gulf in quality between the two teams.
Now, with a place in the 2026 World Cup on the line, Sunday’s final promises to be a blockbuster. India will need to rise above their inconsistency, sharpen their finishing, and dig deep for inspiration as it prepares to challenge the might of China once again.
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