India women's hockey beats Japan 3-1, enters Asian Games semifinals
Synopsis
India's women's hockey team are through to the Asian Games semifinals after a composed 3-1 win over hosts Japan in Kakamigahara. Goals from Lalremsiami, Ishika, and a Navneet scoop in the third quarter did the damage, with Salima Tete's side remaining unbeaten in Pool B — and firmly in medal contention.
Key Takeaways
India women's hockey defeated Japan 3-1 on 25 September at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, Kakamigahara .
Lalremsiami (5th min), Ishika , and Navneet Kaur (36th min) scored for India; Shiho Kobayakawa replied for Japan.
The result books India's place in the semifinals of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games .
Salima Tete's side remain unbeaten through four Pool B matches.
India face Singapore in their final pool match on Sunday .
India's women's hockey team stormed into the semifinals of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 25 September, defeating hosts Japan 3-1 in their fourth Pool B fixture at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara. The result keeps Salima Tete's side unbeaten in the tournament heading into the knockout stage.
How India Won
Lalremsiami broke the deadlock in the fifth minute, collecting a deflected pass inside the circle after Navneet Kaur's initial hit was slowed by a Japanese stick, before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Yu Kudo to make it 1-0. India then doubled their lead in the closing stages of the second quarter when Ishika capitalised on a saved penalty corner effort from Navneet to fire the ball home and take a 2-0 advantage into the break.
The third quarter brought one of the game's highlights as Navneet netted in the 36th minute with a brilliant scoop over the Japanese goalkeeper, stretching India's lead to 3-0. Shiho Kobayakawa pulled one back for Japan in the final quarter with a tomahawk that found the gap to goalkeeper Savita Punia's left, making it 3-1, but India defended composedly to secure the three points.
India's Defensive Resilience
The match was not entirely one-sided. Japan launched counter-attacks that tested India's backline, and goalkeeper Savita Punia — with support from Bichu Devi at a key moment in the first quarter — kept the team's clean sheet intact for much of the game. India also struggled at times to convert penalty corners, with a poor drag-flick stop denying them an additional chance in the first quarter.
Tournament Context
India's unbeaten run through Pool B underlines their credentials as serious contenders for a medal at these Games. The Women in Blue have been methodical in their build-up play, deploying a high-press approach that unsettled Japan from the opening whistle. This victory extends a recent run of strong results for Indian women's hockey at the continental level.
What's Next
India will complete their pool-stage campaign against Singapore in their final Pool B fixture on Sunday before turning their attention to the semifinals. The result against Singapore is unlikely to affect their semifinal qualification, though it could influence their seeding and potential opponents in the knockouts.
Point of View
But the match against Japan exposed a recurring vulnerability: defensive transitions break down when the press is bypassed. Savita Punia's interventions have papered over that gap so far, but stronger semifinal opponents will probe it more deliberately. The bigger story here is Navneet Kaur's growing influence as a match-winner — her scoop goal was the kind of individual skill that separates contenders from champions. Whether the coaching staff can tighten defensive structure without sacrificing the aggressive press that has driven this run will define how far India go.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India qualify for the Asian Games 2023 women's hockey semifinals?
Yes, India qualified for the semifinals of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by defeating Japan 3-1 on 25 September in their fourth Pool B match, remaining unbeaten in the group stage.
Who scored for India in the win over Japan?
Lalremsiami scored in the fifth minute, Ishika added a second in the closing stages of the second quarter, and Navneet Kaur scored in the 36th minute with a scoop. Shiho Kobayakawa scored Japan's consolation goal in the final quarter.
What is India's next match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
India face Singapore in their final Pool B fixture on Sunday before entering the knockout stage. The result against Singapore is not expected to affect their semifinal berth but may influence their seeding.
Who is the captain of the India women's hockey team at the Asian Games?
Salima Tete is leading the India women's hockey side at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Under her captaincy, the team has remained unbeaten through four Pool B matches.
Where was the India vs Japan women's hockey match played?
The match was played at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan, as part of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
