Women’s Asia Cup 2025: India settle for silver after 1-4 loss to China in final

Bhubaneswar : Forward Navneet Kaur gave India a dream start with a goal in the very first minute, but the team could not sustain the momentum and eventually went down 1-4 to hosts China in the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 final.

With the victory, China secured the all-important direct qualification for the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup, joining Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, the United States, Spain, and New Zealand. India, meanwhile, had to settle for the silver medal.

After Navneet’s opener, China equalised in the 21st minute through captain Ou Zixia. The hosts then dominated the second half, with Li Hong (40’), Zou Meirong (51’), and Zhong Jiaqi (53’) scoring to seal the title.

India started aggressively, with goalkeeper Bichu Devi and defender Sunelita Toppo making key saves in the first half to keep China at bay. However, the second-half counterattacks proved too strong for the Indian defence.

Despite putting up a spirited fight, India’s failure to convert penalty corners and defensive lapses cost them dearly. The silver medal finish means the team will have to look for alternate qualification routes for the World Cup.