Nagoya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the Indian women’s hockey team after it won a historic gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, ending a 44-year wait for the continental title.

India defeated defending champions China 1-0 in the women’s hockey final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Friday. Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal as India held on against sustained Chinese pressure to secure its first Asian Games women’s hockey gold since 1982.

The victory also secured India’s direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, adding further significance to the gold-medal triumph.

PM Modi congratulates women’s hockey team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the players following their historic victory.

In a post shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi described the triumph as a special moment for Indian hockey and credited the team’s skills, teamwork and determination for the achievement.

He also expressed his best wishes to the players for their future competitions and said the success could contribute to the popularity of hockey across the country.

The Prime Minister’s comments came shortly after India completed a memorable campaign in Nagoya, where the women’s hockey team remained unbeaten on its way to the title.

President Murmu praises team’s determination

President Droupadi Murmu also congratulated the Indian women’s hockey team on its gold-medal victory.

Murmu described the achievement as a magnificent triumph and highlighted the significance of India’s direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

She also noted the team’s potential impact on young girls across the country, saying the players could serve as an inspiration to a new generation of athletes.

The President’s message followed India’s hard-fought final against China, in which the Indian defence and goalkeeper Savita Punia played crucial roles.

Lalremsiami provides decisive moment

India’s winning goal came in the 10th minute through Lalremsiami.

The move developed after Salima Tete sent the ball into the attacking circle, with Sakshi helping create the opening for Lalremsiami. The forward then produced a powerful reverse-stick strike that beat the Chinese goalkeeper.

The goal proved decisive as China struggled to find a way past India’s defence for the remainder of the contest.

The final was also a landmark occasion for Lalremsiami, who was making her 200th international appearance for India.

Savita Punia makes crucial penalty save

China created significant pressure after falling behind and had an opportunity to level the contest through a penalty stroke.

Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia produced a crucial save to deny the Chinese attack and preserve India’s narrow advantage.

India’s defensive unit then continued to absorb pressure during the later stages of the match. The team managed to prevent China from converting its opportunities and held on for the 1-0 victory.

The result ended India’s long wait for another Asian Games women’s hockey gold.

India end 44-year wait

India’s previous women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games had come in 1982.

The team had subsequently reached the final at the 1998 and 2018 editions but did not win the title on either occasion. The 2026 victory therefore represents India’s return to the top of the women’s Asian Games hockey podium after more than four decades.

The triumph is also significant in the context of India’s recent international campaign. The team finished fifth at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup, its best-ever finish at the tournament.

Olympic qualification adds to historic victory

Apart from the Asian Games gold, India secured a direct qualification place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by winning the continental title.

The qualification provides the Indian women’s team with an early route into the next Olympic Games and avoids the need to depend solely on subsequent qualification tournaments.

For a team that missed Olympic qualification for Paris 2024, the return to the Olympic pathway is an important development.

Government leaders join celebrations

The congratulations from the country’s top constitutional and political offices came as India continued its strong medal campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also praised the team, describing the triumph as a significant moment for Indian women’s hockey. He specifically highlighted Lalremsiami’s decisive strike and Savita Punia’s penalty-stroke save.

The messages reflected the significance attached to the team’s return to the Asian Games summit after 44 years.

For the players, however, the gold was the culmination of their campaign in Nagoya and a hard-fought final against one of Asia’s leading women’s hockey teams.

A landmark moment for Indian hockey

India’s 1-0 victory over China has now added another major chapter to the country’s women’s hockey history.

Lalremsiami’s goal, Savita Punia’s crucial save and India’s defensive resilience combined to deliver the gold medal. The victory also ensured qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, giving the team another major international target.

With the Asian Games title secured after a 44-year gap, the Indian women’s hockey team leaves Aichi-Nagoya with both a continental gold medal and an Olympic berth.