Asia Cup 2025: Indian Women’s Hockey Team Settle for Silver After 1-4 Loss to China in Final

Hangzhou [China], September 14: The Indian women’s hockey team clinched the silver medal at the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 after going down 1-4 to hosts China in the final held in Hangzhou on Sunday. India made a dream start when veteran forward Navneet Kaur struck in the very first minute through a powerful penalty corner conversion, giving India an early 1-0 lead. However, the hosts gradually grew into the game, attacking with intent and keeping the Indian defence under constant pressure. In the fourth minute, China earned their first penalty corner but were denied by a goalline block from Sunelita Toppo and a sharp save from goalkeeper Bichu Devi. China continued to pile on the pressure, earning another penalty corner in the 15th minute, but failed to get past India’s first rusher. The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Bichu Devi making crucial saves, including a brilliant block in the 20th minute. China finally broke through in the 21st minute when captain Ou Zixia converted a penalty corner to make it 1-1, as both teams went into the break level. India began the third quarter strongly, pushing China back and creating circle entries, but failed to convert their chances. Against the run of play, China launched a swift counterattack after intercepting a penalty corner in the 40th minute. Li Hong produced a dazzling solo run and fired a back-handed shot into the bottom right corner to give China a 2-1 lead. In the final quarter, China sealed their victory with two quick strikes. In the 51st minute, Ying Zhang’s pass inside the circle was tapped in by Zou Meirong, and just two minutes later, Zhong Jiaqi cut in from the right flank and slotted the ball past the Indian goalkeeper to make it 4-1. Despite a spirited start, India were unable to recover from the second-half onslaught, and China lifted the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 title while India settled for the silver medal.