Saturday 3 October 2026

20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Gifu Japan

All times GMT +9

Men

India Clinch Asian Games Gold to Seal LA28 Olympic Qualification 



India have achieved continental glory and punched their direct ticket to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 after being crowned champions of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 women’s hockey competition. In a pulsating gold medal encounter, India edged out Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists and defending champions China to return to the top step of the podium after 44 years!

India women secure Asian Games hockey gold and LA 2028 Olympics ticket


India booked LA Olympics berth with gold PIC: Asian Hockey Federation

India women ended a 44-year-wait for Asian Games gold when Salima Tete’s team dethroned defending champions and world No.4 China 1-0 to become champions for the first time since 1982. 

Indian women’s hockey team dethrones China to become Asian Games champion again after a 44-year wait

Lalremsiami’s 10th-minute goal and a brilliantly-saved penalty stroke by goalkeeper Savita ensured that India won 1-0 and clinched its second Asian Games gold in women’s hockey and first since 1982



Kakamigahara: The Indian team rewrote history books on Friday in Japan by ending a 44-year-wait for another Asian Games gold medal in women’s hockey when Salima Tete’s team dethroned defending champions and world No. 4 China 1-0 to become champions for the first time since 1982. 

A wait ends, a new era begins - India’s women win hockey gold

India ended a 44-year wait for an Asiad gold in women’s hockey as it stunned defending champion China in the Asian Games 2026 final.

Uthra Ganesan


The win over China also earned India a direct qualification spot in women’s hockey LA 2028, marking a return to Olympics after missing out in 2024. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

Forty four years. That’s how long Indian women’s hockey has waited for this moment. Winning the Asian Games, defeating China 1-0 in the final on Friday, was the final box ticked for the year by a group that bears no resemblance to the one that started 2026.

Lalremsiami goal helps gritty India beat China to secure gold and LA 2028 Olympic berth

Lalremsiami, playing her 200th international match, scored the only goal of the match in the first quarter to hand India their first Asian Games title in 44 years. 

By Utathya Nag


Picture by Asian Hockey Federation

The Indian women's hockey team was crowned the Asian Games 2026 champions after beating the People’s Republic of China 1-0 in the gold medal match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Friday.

India ends 44-year wait, beats China 1-0 to win Asian Games women's hockey gold 

The victory gives India their first Asian Games women's hockey gold since 1982 and also secures qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. 


Indian women's hockey team pose after finishing fifth at 2026 FIH World Cup (Photo credit: Hockey India)

India ended a 44-year wait for the Asian Games women's hockey gold and qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with a performance built on one stunning strike and an extraordinary rearguard action, upstaging defending champions and Olympic silver-medallists China 1-0 in the final here on Friday.

Lalremsiami completes 200 senior international caps, Hockey India congratulates the star striker

The 26-year-old Lalremsiami reached the 200-caps milestone during India’s gold-medal match against China at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan



Kakamigahara: Hockey India congratulates Indian women’s hockey team forward Lalremsiami on completing 200 senior international appearances for the country, a landmark she reached during India’s gold-medal match against China at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.

India’s historic Asian Games gold: How Marijne’s young team turned its fortunes around

India’s women’s hockey team completed a remarkable turnaround under Sjoerd Marijne, winning Asian Games gold and securing direct qualification for the LA Olympics.

Aashin Prasad


India’s players celebrate as they lift coach Sjoerd Marijne after winning the women’s final gold medal match. | Photo Credit: PTI

After India won silver at the Asian Cup in September 2025, losing to China 4-1 in the final, the road ahead looked uncertain for the women’s team. Harendra Singh stepped down as head coach out of the blue, with the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching.

‘Good defending, discipline and keep running’: Marijne reveals India’s gold-medal formula 

Sjoerd Marijne credited India’s discipline, defensive resilience and collective effort after the women beat China 1-0 to win Asian Games gold.


Sjoerd Marijne credited India’s discipline, defensive resilience and collective effort after the women beat China 1-0 to win Asian Games gold (Photo credit: PTI)

India women’s hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne had a simple message for his players as China mounted relentless attacks in the Asian Games final -- defend well, stay disciplined and keep running.

LA qualification mattered more than 44-year wait for Asian Games gold: Savita

India goalkeeper says direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was the team’s overriding goal as new coaching set-up transformed its unity, confidence and belief


Veteran India goalkeeper Savita Punia said securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was the team’s overriding objective. Image credit/ANI file

More than ending India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games women’s hockey gold, veteran India goalkeeper Savita Punia said securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was the team’s overriding objective, with the new coaching set-up transforming the side’s environment, unity and belief over the last 10 months.

Feels like team spirit: Coach Marijne rebuilds Indian women’s hockey team

Guides team to Asian Games gold medal

Indervir Grewal


India's players celebrate as they lift coach Sjoerd Marijne. PTI

The Indian women’s hockey team’s Asian Games triumph marks a remarkable turnaround since their third place finish in the last edition.

From divided dressing room to Asian Games gold: How Sjoerd Marijne transformed India 

Sjoerd Marijne returned to India in January and helped transform a struggling women’s hockey team into Asian Games champions and Olympic qualifiers.



When the Dutchman returned as India’s head coach in January, he inherited a squad that had been knocked out of the FIH Pro League (Photo credit: PTI) By PTI Published: 2 Oct 2026 5:59 PM “The job is not done yet.” Sjored Marine sounded typically understated when midfielder Neha explored the head coach’s reaction on India’s entry into the Asian Games final.

‘Baton has been passed, the legacy lives on’: 1982 champions hail India women’s Asian Games hockey triumph

Being the captain of the 1982 gold-winning team, Eliza Nelson was moved to tears as she watched India hold off China to reclaim the title, sitting faraway in the U.S. For Selma D’Silva, the victory brought back memories of the hard work and challenges they had faced on their way to the top.

Shayan Acharya


Indian women’s hockey team won an Asian Games gold medal after 44 years. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy and Anurita Saini/Facebook

For Eliza Nelson, the wait was long, but the joy of seeing India reclaim the women’s Asian Games hockey gold after 44 years was just as special as her own triumph in 1982.

Hockey India announces Rs.11 Lakh cash reward for Asian Games gold medal-winning women’s team

Hockey India first announced a Rs.10 Lakh reward for the Indian women’s hockey team and later increased it to Rs. 11 Lakh per player.


This is the women’s team’s first gold medal in the continental event in 44 years, with its last Asiad gold coming in the 1982 Games.  | Photo Credit: PTI

The Indian women’s hockey team beat China 1-0 to win gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi Nagoya on Friday.

Preview: Indian men’s hockey team eyes historic back-to-back Asian Games gold in the final against Malaysia

The defending champions are just one win away from winning successive Asian Games gold medals for the first time, as captain Harmanpreet Singh’s team looks to rewrite history in the 'final' battle, which will be between the two unbeaten teams in the competition



Kakamigahara: One win away from history, the Indian men’s hockey team will return to action on Saturday with the biggest prize of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in sight. After a thrilling semi-final win against arch-rivals Pakistan, the defending champions now face Malaysia in the gold-medal match, knowing that victory would not only bring another Asian Games title but also secure qualification for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

Indian men keen to avoid complacency in hockey final against Malaysia

Malaysia has never won the continental marquee event. India has never defended its title. It remains to be seen which record gets finally broken.

Uthra Ganesan


Harmanpreet Singh will be key to India’s chances in the men’s hockey final. | Photo Credit: RV Moorthy

When the Indian men’s hockey team takes on Malaysia in the final of the Asian Games, it would be clear favourite, basis rankings and recent past. It would do well to be wary of complacency.

India-Pakistan Hockey Clash Draws Sparse Crowd at 2026 Asian Games

By Prabhjot Singh



Hockey, though a game that the British brought to South Asia in the late 19th century, has come to be known as a game that members of the South Asian diaspora took to every corner of the globe.

National women hockey squad set sights on Olympic qualifier spot

By Aftar Singh


Malaysia's Azmyra Azhairy in action in the Asian Games women’s hockey fifth to sixth playoff against Thailand in Kakamigahara, Japan on October 2, 2026. -- REUTERS PIC

KUALA LUMPUR: National coach CR Kumar believes there are many areas that the Speedy Tigresses can work on after beating Thailand 4-0 to finish fifth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday.

What you need to know about Match Round 2 (men)

Ramon Min



Rotterdam are hoping to cause Bloemendaal further trouble, whilst HDM are looking to end a run of poor results on home turf. Here are the facts and figures for Match Round 1 in the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse Men.

What you need to know about Match Round 2 (women)

Ramon Min



Kampong and Amsterdam face off in the first top match of the season, whilst HGC are hoping to end their losing run against Den Bosch. Here are the facts for Match Round 2 in the Staatsloterij Hoofdklasse Women’s League.

NCAA Division 1 results 2 October 2026

NCAA Division 1 fixtures 3 October 2026