Lalremsiami’s 200th Cap Caps India’s Asian Games Hockey Triumph
JAPAN/INDIA, October 2: India’s women’s hockey team ended a 44-year wait for Asian Games gold with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over defending champions China in the final of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan on October 2. The historic victory was made even more special by Lalremsiami Hmarzote of Mizoram, who marked her 200th senior international appearance for India by scoring the decisive goal. Lalremsiami found the back of the net in the 10th minute with a powerful reverse-stick strike after a well-worked attacking move involving captain Salima Tete and Sakshi Rana. Her goal ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides. China responded with sustained pressure and created several opportunities, but India’s defence remained disciplined. Goalkeeper Savita Punia produced a crucial penalty-stroke save in the second quarter to preserve India’s narrow advantage. India held firm through the remaining quarters despite China’s relentless attacks, securing a 1...