China emerged victorious in theWomen's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 final, defeating India 4-1 on Sunday and securing a direct qualification spot for the upcoming World Cup. Despite a strong start, the Indian team, ranked ninth in the world, faltered in the second half, missing a crucial opportunity to book their ticket to the top global event. India will now have to navigate the World Cup Qualifiers to earn their place.
India drew first blood in the very first minute, with Navneet Kaur expertly converting a penalty corner to give her side an early lead. The initial momentum was with India, as they successfully thwarted two back-to-back penalty corners from the host nation. However, China, stunned by the early goal, went on the offensive and mounted continuous raids on the Indian half. Their relentless pressure finally paid off in the 21st minute when Zixia Ou found the back of the net from a penalty corner, leveling the score at 1-1. Both teams went into halftime locked in a fierce contest.
The second half saw a shift in momentum. While India attempted to play more attacking hockey, the Chinese defense was at its best. China's persistent attacks finally paid dividends when Li Hong scored a thunderous shot from distance, giving China the lead for the first time in the 41st minute. This goal seemed to open the floodgates for the host nation. The Indian team's strike force, including Mumtaz Khan, Lalremsiami, and Sunelita Toppo, who had performed well in earlier matches, failed to rise to the occasion.
With a one-goal deficit, the Indian team pressed hard for an equalizer in the fourth and final quarter, but the Chinese defense remained resolute. The home team extended their lead by pumping in two more goals in a span of just two minutes. Meirong Zou scored a field goal in the 51st minute, followed by another from Jiaqi Zhong just two minutes later, securing a comfortable 4-1 victory.
This win marks China's third Asia Cup title, having previously clinched the trophy in 1989 and 2009. For India, the loss is a significant setback, as winners of continental competitions are guaranteed a berth in the World Cup. The Indian squad will now have to regroup and prepare for the qualifiers to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.
