India’s women stormed into the Asian Games 2026 hockey final with a 2–0 semi-final win over South Korea on Wednesday, setting up a gold-medal clash with defending champions China on 2 October. Goals from Ishika Chaudhary and Salima Tete ended a long Korean jinx and put India one win from ending a 44-year wait for Asian Games women’s hockey gold.
Breaking the Korean wall
India controlled large stretches at the Aichi-Nagoya venue, converting penalty-corner and open-play pressure. Chaudhary opened the scoring before Tete doubled the lead. Goalkeeping and midfield pressing limited Korea’s circle entries. The result also assures India at least a silver and keeps a direct LA 2028 Olympic qualification path in sight if they beat China in the final.
Korea had been a repeated roadblock in recent continental meetings. Coach and players said the focus now shifts quickly to China’s structured defence and counter-attack. The win adds to India’s strong Games day that also featured Wednesday’s archery gold rush and earlier shooting medals. Ticket demand for the final surged within hours of the semi-final result being confirmed.
Gold, and an Olympic berth, on the line
India last won Asian Games women’s hockey gold in 1982. China arrive as defending champions and favourites, but India’s circle penetration, drag-flick options and improved fitness give them a live chance at continental glory on Friday.
Match-up to watch
The final is scheduled for 2 October. A gold would crown a campaign that has already locked a podium finish; a silver would still mark progress toward Los Angeles 2028. Match reports are in India Today.
Today’s News 30 Sep 2026 · 10 stories
1India’s external debt rises to $778.2 billion in June quarter, RBI data showSep 30, 2026- 2India women beat Korea 2–0 to reach Asian Games hockey final against ChinaSep 30, 2026 · Reading now
- 3Iran gets official US response on Hormuz deal talks as Brent holds near $103Sep 30, 2026
- 4Russian missile and drone strikes kill at least seven in Ukraine; Kyiv power grid hitSep 30, 2026
- 52026 monsoon ends 13% below normal, weakest since 2015, IMD confirmsSep 30, 2026
- 6Kaveri dry engine clears Russia trials at 48.5 kN, next step Ghatak UCAV integrationSep 30, 2026
- 7Asian Games Day 12: India sweeps compound archery golds, tally hits 60 medalsSep 30, 2026
- 8West Indies post record 405/7 as Campbell, Hope and Jangoo hit centuries in GuwahatiSep 30, 2026
- 9INDIA bloc finalises Save Democracy marches, demands paper ballots and CEC accountabilitySep 30, 2026
- 10Sensex ends at 72,480, Nifty slips 0.4% as crude near $103 and FII selling weighSep 30, 2026
Israel strips Dutch diplomats of status in West Bank after Netherlands bans settlement goods
Israel has given Dutch diplomats in Ramallah seven days to return their Israeli credentials after the Netherlands banned goods from settlements in…
Income Tax searches at 12 Mumbai locations linked to Rakul Preet Singh, Vashu Bhagnani and Panorama Studios
The Income Tax Department searched 12 Mumbai locations linked to actor Rakul Preet Singh, producer Vashu Bhagnani and Panorama Studios over alleged…
Asian Games 2026 Day 10: Esha Singh wins silver after shoot-off, Lovlina assured of medal
Esha Singh won silver in the women's 25m pistol after a shoot-off, Pincky Balhara took kurash bronze and Lovlina Borgohain assured a…
Supreme Court tells CBSE to extend three-language relaxation to Class 6 students
The Supreme Court has directed CBSE to extend to Class 6 the relaxation already given to Classes 7 to 9 under the…
Delhi winter pollution plan: 50% work from home, vehicle curbs and construction ban from November
Delhi will require 50% work from home in offices from 1 November, restrict older outside vehicles, double parking charges and ban construction…
SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for the first time, deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites
SpaceX's Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time and released 26 next-generation Starlink satellites, though an engine loss led the company…
Congress calls CWC meeting on Election Commission row; Kharge repeats demand for CEC’s resignation
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called a CWC meeting on Tuesday on the Election Commission row, while the INDIA bloc meets on…
Russian strikes kill at least seven across Ukraine; Kyiv science academy building hit
A wave of Russian drone and missile attacks killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50 across Ukraine, including a…
Iran says it is ready for a ‘doomsday war’ as Hormuz stays shut; Brent nears $108
Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was ready even for a 'doomsday war' if fighting resumes, as the IRGC kept Hormuz closed to…
Sensex crashes 1,124 points to six-month low as oil, US yields and FII selling weigh
The Sensex fell 1,124 points to its lowest close since March as costly crude, rising US bond yields and foreign selling erased…
Kohli’s unbeaten 120, Gill’s 110 power India to 8-wicket win over West Indies in first ODI
India chased down 296 with more than eight overs to spare in Thiruvananthapuram as Virat Kohli (120*) and Shubman Gill (110) struck…
Left, farmers and trade unions join push to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar as EC issues nine-point note
Left parties, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and trade unions have stepped up protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, even as the EC announced…
Google tests Flipkart checkout inside Gemini and AI Mode in India ahead of festive sales
A limited Google trial lets some Indian users buy selected Flipkart products directly from Gemini and AI Mode, a step towards AI-led…
RBI rate hike in October? Economists see 25 bps rise as oil and inflation climb
With retail inflation at 4.82% and crude above $100, economists increasingly expect the RBI's MPC to raise the repo rate by 25…
Ramayana promo event with MrBeast delayed four hours; media walk out, producer apologises
A Mumbai launch event for Ramayana featuring MrBeast ran about four hours late, prompting a media walkout and an apology from producer…
Asian Games Day 9: India wins seven medals as squash and athletics lift tally to 37
India added four silvers and three bronzes on Sunday in Aichi-Nagoya, taking its Asian Games 2026 tally to 37 medals.
Iran holds to Hormuz conditions after Trump’s rejection; IRGC claims capture of US underwater drone
Iran says it is still waiting for a formal US response on its Hormuz proposal after Trump publicly rejected it, while the…
Jaishankar at UNGA: India will exercise right to defend itself against terrorism
EAM S Jaishankar told the UN General Assembly India will defend itself against terrorism, rebutting Pakistan's remarks and calling for reformed multilateralism.
Mann Ki Baat 138th episode: PM Modi marks surgical strike anniversary, pushes Census self-enumeration
In the 138th Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi recalled the 2016 surgical strikes, urged Census self-enumeration and highlighted cleanliness, nutrition and anti-drug…
UP rain toll hits 56 as downpour lashes Uttarakhand, Jharkhand; Char Dham Yatra paused
At least 56 people have died in Uttar Pradesh after 60 hours of rain, while Uttarakhand paused the Char Dham Yatra and…
Import duty cut on edible oils ahead of festivals — explained
Centre cuts BCD on crude sunflower, soybean and palm oils from 24 September 2026 to ease festival-season cooking oil prices.
India–UK CETA in force: who really benefits from the trade deal
With India-UK CETA live since July 2026, Indian exporters gain duty-free UK access — but standards and certification still decide who wins.
Russia–Ukraine aerial war intensifies as drones and missiles hit cities
Russia launches large drone salvos as Ukraine reports civilian deaths; Kyiv strikes Russian industrial sites in intensifying aerial war.
Hormuz and Houthi risks explained: what Gulf disruption means for India’s oil
Explainer for Indian readers on Hormuz traffic collapse, Bab el-Mandeb pressure, Saudi pipeline shutdown and what it means for fuel costs.
Pingback: India Men & Women in AG Hockey Finals Since 1998 | 1 Oct