Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian women’s hockey team after they won the silver medal at the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. India lost 1-4 to China in the final, which meant the team missed direct qualification for next year’s World Cup.

PM Modi lauded the team’s effort on social media platform X. He wrote, “Our Indian Women’s Hockey Team has made the nation proud by winning the Silver Medal in the Women’s Asia Cup 2025. Congratulations to them. Their determination and team spirit are simply outstanding. Wishing them the very best for the times to come.”

Our Indian Women’s Hockey Team has made the nation proud by winning the Silver Medal in the Women’s Asia Cup 2025. Congratulations to them. Their determination and team spirit are simply outstanding. Wishing them the very best for the times to come. pic.twitter.com/ZQJQQctBLV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 14, 2025

China Overpowers India in Final

India took an early lead in the very first minute of the match through a penalty corner conversion by Navneet Kaur. However, China soon regained control. Zixia Ou scored in the 21st minute to equalize, followed by Hong Li in the 41st minute. Later, Meirong Zou and Jiaqi Zhong scored in quick succession in the 51st and 53rd minutes, helping China secure their third Women’s Asia Cup title and a direct berth in the 2026 World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Early Match Highlights

India earned their first scoring chance within 39 seconds via a penalty corner, and Navneet Kaur converted it flawlessly. Three minutes later, China nearly equalized with back-to-back penalty corners, but India defended resolutely.

Despite the early setback, China mounted continuous attacks, keeping India under pressure. The Salima Tete-led defence held strong, blocking multiple Chinese attempts.

China’s persistence paid off in the 21st minute when Zixia Ou converted a penalty corner, leveling the score at 1-1. This goal boosted China’s morale, but the first half ended with both teams tied. China had been the more dominant side in the opening half.

Second Half Drama

After the break, India tried to attack aggressively, but the Chinese defence remained firm, preventing clear scoring opportunities. Four minutes into the third quarter, Hong Li scored a field goal from a counter-attack, giving China the lead.

In the final quarter, India, ranked ninth in the world, pushed hard for an equalizer. However, the Chinese defence held strong, and China extended their lead further with two quick goals. Meirong Zou scored in the 51st minute, followed by Jiaqi Zhong two minutes later, securing China’s 4-1 victory.

China’s Historic Win

China has previously won the Asia Cup in 1989 in Hong Kong and 2009 in Bangkok. This win marks their third Asia Cup title and ensures direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

India’s Performance and Next Steps

India struggled in the final as their strike force underperformed. Players like Mumtaz Khan, Lalremsiami, and Sunelita Toppo could not replicate their earlier match form.

As a result, India must now go through the World Cup Qualifiers to secure a spot in the top international event next year.