India vs China LIVE Hockey Asian Games 2026: Match gets underway after long delay

India vs China LIVE Hockey Asian Games 2026: India’s goal-scoring run faces a stern test against China as the two sides clash for gold in the women’s hockey final at the Asian Games 2026.

India vs China LIVE Hockey Asian Games 2026: Follow Latest Updates (Hockey India)

India vs China LIVE Hockey Asian Games 2026: The mega clash between India and China is set to take centre stage in the high-stakes gold medal encounter at the Asian Games. The Indian women’s team will be high on confidence after their 2-2 draw against the Asian Games champions at the World Cup in August. India have been a goal-scoring machine in this edition, but they will be wary of the Chinese threat and head into this contest as the underdogs. The Indian forward line has been exceptional, scoring goals for fun, especially in the group stage. They will need to remain clinical inside the attacking 25-yard area, as breaking down a defence like China’s and creating open-play goals will be easier said than done.

Follow all the updates here:

• 2 Oct 2026, 04:32:38 PM IST

  It kicks off finally

  After a delay of one hour. China are livelier at the start. The Indian defence has a big test today. The Chinese have started applying pressure already. India also respond with a circle penetration of their own.

• 2 Oct 2026, 04:26:19 PM IST

  Lalremsiami felicitated

  She is playing her 200th game for India today. National anthems get underway. It's China first. The players are soberly singing along. It's India now. A lot of passion in the singing of Indian players. Dead serious they are.

• 2 Oct 2026, 04:12:41 PM IST

  Another delay

  The match will now kick off at 4:30 pm. Seems like the Indian team has not reached the venue yet. This is so disappointing. At least my enthusiasm has fizzled out a bit.

• 2 Oct 2026, 03:47:38 PM IST

  Now we know the reason

  Apparently, there has been an accident involving other vehicles, and the Indian team bus has got stuck on the highway because of that. A couple of months ago, the Indian cricket team also reached the venue late in England because of traffic issues.

• 2 Oct 2026, 03:32:06 PM IST

  Match rescheduled

  The match will now start at 04:15 pm. There is no word out as to why it has been done. Stay tuned. Another match involving the Indian women's team had been rescheduled a few days ago. Was it the semifinal? Or was it involving the men's hockey team?

• 2 Oct 2026, 03:08:44 PM IST

  India's start list

  Ishika Chaudhary, Nikki Pradhan, Bichu Kharibam, Lalremsiami, Jyoti, Sushila Pukhrambam, Navneet Kaur, Sunelita Toppo, Tete, Neha and Deepika.

• 2 Oct 2026, 02:51:54 PM IST

  Very important match

  The winners will get direct entry into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Basically, if you win and qualify today, you can chill in the rest of 2026, the entire 2027 and quite a few months of 2028. That's how important this match is. Rest assured, both teams are going to fight tooth and nail.

• 2 Oct 2026, 02:22:33 PM IST

  India did well against China in the World Cup

  Both teams played out a 2-2 draw in August. The Indian women's team will have to look no further than that game for inspiration. They have done it before and they can do it again. Navneet and Deepika were on target that day. For China, Zhang Ying and Ma Ning scored.

• 2 Oct 2026, 02:17:06 PM IST

  What India coach Sjoerd Marijne said

  “We have confidence, but we also realize that China is a very good team. They are still No. 4 in the world. We did really well at the World Cup, better than them, but still they have a lot of experience… Some things we can improve in and that’s how we approach the final against China.”

• 2 Oct 2026, 02:14:39 PM IST

  China challenge

  The Chinese team has not conceded a single goal in this edition which tells you what awaits Salima Tete's bunch today. In their five pool games games, China scored 46 goals. In the semifinal, they beat Japan 4-2 in penalty shootout after it stayed 0-0 in allotted time.

• 2 Oct 2026, 01:12:52 PM IST

  Hello and welcome!

  To our coverage of the women's hockey gold medal match between India and China. The match is scheduled for a 3:30 pm start. Stay tuned.