- India are now just one victory away from securing their second Asian Games womenโs hockey gold.
- India earned their sixth penalty corner in the 21st minute.
- South Korea threw numbers forward in the closing stages.
The in-form Indian womenโs hockey team moved within one win of ending a 44-year wait for an Asian Games gold medal after defeating South Korea 2-0 in the semifinal of the continental showpiece here on Wednesday.
Ishika Chaudhary and captain Salima Tete scored in the second half as India overcame a stubborn Korean defence to book their place in the final. India will face defending champions China in the summit clash on Friday.
India are now just one victory away from securing their second Asian Games womenโs hockey gold. Their only previous triumph came at the 1982 New Delhi Games, when they finished on top on home soil.
India Dominate But Korea Hold Firm
India started on the front foot and spent most of the first half inside the Korean half. They earned their first penalty corner as early as the second minute, but Deepikaโs flick was brilliantly saved by Korean goalkeeper Seoyeon Lee.
Another penalty corner came two minutes later, but Navneet could not capitalise. Lee was again called into action in the 13th minute when she kept out a deflection from Rutuja Dadaso Pisal off a long ball.
๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐! ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฅ
โ Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 30, 2026
The Indian Womenโs Team beats South Korea 2-0 in the second semi-final of Asian Games 2026 to book their place in the gold medal match! ๐๐ช
China await in the final on October 2. One last battle for gold. ๐ฎ๐ณ๐#HockeyIndiaโฆ pic.twitter.com/lAb0o7MnZL
India continued to pile on the pressure and earned three more penalty corners early in the second quarter. However, the Korean defence remained organised and repeatedly denied the Indian attackers.
India earned their sixth penalty corner in the 21st minute but failed to stop the ball after an imperfect injection. Two more set pieces came in the final two minutes of the first half, but Korea held firm to keep the score level at the interval.
Ishika, Salima Break Korean Resistance
India continued to dominate after the change of ends but struggled to find a way through Koreaโs defensive structure.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 44th minute through a well-executed penalty-corner variation. Deepika played the indirect variation, with Ishika Chaudhary getting the final touch on a deflection to put India ahead.
Four minutes later, India doubled their advantage through captain Salima Tete. The skipper produced a brilliant solo run down the right before finishing a superb field goal to make it 2-0.
India had opportunities to extend their lead and earned two consecutive penalty corners in the 57th minute, but Deepika was denied by Lee once again.
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India Hold On To Reach Final
South Korea threw numbers forward in the closing stages and earned four consecutive penalty corners as they searched for a way back into the contest.
India, however, produced a disciplined defensive display to keep their clean sheet intact and seal a 2-0 victory.
China will now stand between India and a second Asian Games womenโs hockey gold. The defending champions defeated Japan 4-2 in a shoot-out after the first semifinal ended goalless following 60 minutes.
South Korea will face Japan in the bronze medal match.