Kakamigahara (Japan): The Indian women’s hockey team continued its unbeaten run, beating hosts Japan 3-1 to register its fourth consecutive win and virtually seal a semifinal berth at the Asian Games here on Friday.
The Indians scored through Lalremsiami (5th minute), Ishika Chaudhary (30th) and Navneet Kaur (36th).
Japan’s lone goal was scored by Shiho Kobayakawa in the 46th minute.
Having won all four group matches till now, India, who beat Japan to win the bronze medal at Hangzhou 2023, currently top Pool B with 12 points and are assured a top-two finish and by extension, a place in the semis.
Japan have nine points from four and are currently second in the Asian Games 2026 hockey women’s Pool B standings.
Thailand, who play Indonesia later on Friday, can also reach 12 points if they win their remaining matches but with them playing Japan in their final group game, only one of the two can match India’s tally.
The top two teams from each of the two groups after round robin matches qualify for the semi-finals.
India began the match brightly, continuously probing the Japanese circle and the sustained pressure paid off inside the opening five minutes. Lalremsiami found herself in the right place at the right time to tap the ball inside the net after the Japanese keeper had made a good save to deny Navneet Kaur.
Around the halfway mark of the first quarter, Japan had a golden opportunity to equalise but Maho Ueno’s well-directed penalty corner was slapped away by Savita Punia.
Interestingly, it was world No. 11 Japan who seemed the likelier team to score for the remainder of the period. India, ranked eighth in the world, survived the storm and ended the quarter with a 1-0 lead.
The second quarter saw India regain their attacking impetus. Lalremsiami came close to doubling her tally four minutes in but her shot at goal was blocked by Japanese defenders.
India kept pushing for the all-important second goal for the remainder of the period and found their prize in the dying seconds.
Navneet was denied again, this time from a penalty corner, but Ishika Chaudhary pounced on the loose ball to give her team a 2-0 lead at half-time.
In the third quarter, Navneet finally got her goal with her seventh shot of the match. The Indian striker showcased some brilliant stickwork inside the circle before burying an angled shot past Japanese goalie Yu Kudo.
Navneet could have had a third in the dying seconds of the period but this time, Kudo made a brilliant save.
Japan pulled a goal back really early in the fourth quarter with Shiho Kobayakawa rifling in a vicious tomahawk after holding off an Indian defender.
The goal made it a nervy ending for Salima Tete and Co. The team, however, dug in and rode out a final charge from the Japanese to see off the win.
The Indian women’s hockey team will face Singapore in its final Asian Games Pool B match on Sunday.
