The Indian women's hockey team secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games after defeating hosts Japan 3-1 in their Pool B match in Kakamigahara, Japan, on September 25. The victory extended India's unbeaten run in the tournament and marked their fourth consecutive win in the women's hockey competition.
India entered the match after recording three convincing victories in their opening Pool B games. The team began its campaign with a 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan, followed by a 17-1 win against Indonesia and a 20-1 victory over Thailand. The win against Japan maintained India's perfect record in the pool and confirmed their semifinal qualification.
India started strongly against Japan and created pressure from the opening stages. Lalremsiami opened the scoring in the fifth minute, giving India an early 1-0 advantage. The Indian side continued to attack while Japan attempted to contain the pressure and create opportunities of its own.
India added a second goal shortly before half-time through Ishika Chaudhary. Her goal gave India a 2-0 lead at the break and provided the team with a strong platform going into the second half. Japan defended with greater organisation during several phases of the first half, but India were able to make their opportunities inside the striking circle count.
The Indian team continued its attacking approach in the third quarter. Navneet Kaur scored India's third goal after collecting the ball inside the circle and finishing over the Japanese goalkeeper. The goal put India 3-0 ahead and gave them greater control of the match.
Japan responded in the fourth quarter and reduced the deficit through Shiho Kobayakawa in the 46th minute. Kobayakawa found the net with a backhand strike from the top of the circle, giving Japan a chance to put additional pressure on the Indian defence.
India, however, maintained its two-goal advantage for the remainder of the match and completed a 3-1 victory. The result confirmed India's place in the semifinal stage of the women's hockey competition.
The match also provided India with a more competitive contest after the team's three high-scoring victories at the start of the tournament. The wins over Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Thailand had produced a large goal difference, while Japan offered a stronger challenge and managed to score against the Indian defence.
Indian head coach Sjoerd Marijne acknowledged the team's performance across the first three quarters but expressed concern about the drop in intensity and discipline during the final quarter. The coach said the team needed to maintain its focus throughout the match as it prepares for the knockout stage.
India's qualification for the semifinals comes with one Pool B match still remaining. The Indian team is scheduled to face Singapore on September 27 in its final pool match. Hockey India's official tournament schedule lists the India versus Singapore match for Sunday, September 27.
The semifinal matches are scheduled for September 30, with the exact opponents to be determined by the final pool standings. The medal matches are scheduled for October 2.
The 2026 Asian Games women's hockey competition is being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The tournament brings together teams from across Asia, with the competition progressing from the pool stage to the knockout rounds. India's strong start has placed the team among the sides competing for a place in the medal matches.
The 3-1 victory over Japan is also significant because Japan entered the match as the host nation. Despite the home team's attempt to recover after falling behind, India remained in control for most of the contest and secured the result required to move into the semifinals.
India's goals came from three different players, with Lalremsiami scoring in the opening quarter, Ishika Chaudhary adding the second before half-time and Navneet Kaur completing India's scoring in the third quarter. Japan's only goal came from Kobayakawa in the final quarter.
With the semifinal place confirmed, India's next focus will be completing the Pool B campaign against Singapore and preparing for the knockout stage. The team will also look to address the lapses identified during the final quarter of the Japan match as it moves into the more decisive stages of the competition.
