India settle for silver as China win Women's Hockey Asia Cup and World Cup berth
The Indian women's hockey team lost 4-1 to hosts China in the Women's Asia Cup 2025 final in Hangzhou on 14 September 2025, winning silver but missing direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Summary
The Indian women's hockey team lost 4-1 to hosts China in the final of the Women's Asia Cup 2025 at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park in Hangzhou on 14 September 2025. Navneet Kaur gave India the lead with a penalty corner conversion in the first minute, but China scored through Ou Zixia, Li Hong, Zou Meirong and Zhong Jiaqi to win their third Asia Cup title. As continental champions, China secured direct qualification for the 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup, to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, while India must go through the World Cup qualifiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on the silver medal.
Key facts
- Final
- China 4-1 India, 14 Sep 2025, Hangzhou
- India's goal
- Navneet Kaur (PC, 1st minute)
- Result
- India silver; China's third Asia Cup title
- World Cup 2026
- Belgium and Netherlands; China qualified directly, India to play qualifiers
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Which team defeated India in the final of the Women's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 on 14 September 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — China
Hosts China beat India 4-1 in the final in Hangzhou to win their third Women's Asia Cup title.
Who scored India's only goal in the Women's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 final?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Navneet Kaur
Navneet Kaur converted a penalty corner in the first minute to give India the lead before China scored four times.
Consider the following statements about the Women's Hockey Asia Cup 2025: 1. India's loss in the final meant they missed direct qualification for the 2026 FIH Women's World Cup. 2. The final was played in India. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: continental champions qualify directly, so China qualified and India must go through the qualifiers. Statement 2 is incorrect: the final was played at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park in Hangzhou, China.
The 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup, for which China qualified by winning the Asia Cup 2025, will be co-hosted by which countries?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Belgium and the Netherlands
The 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup is to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.