Jakarta: The Indian women’s hockey team made their first Asian Games final in 20 years, outlasting three-time champions China 1-0 in a fiercely-contested battle here Wednesday.
Gurjit Kaur’s strike from a penalty corner in the 52nd minute was the difference between the two sides, in a match that lacked the quality of a high-profile semifinal.
India will now face Japan, who upset five-time champions South Korea 2-0 in the other semifinal.
India earned their first penalty corner in the eighth minute but Gurjit’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper. India created four scoring opportunities in the first quarter but failed to finish.
Against the run of play, China secured a penalty corner at the start of the second quarter in the 18th minute, but Zixia Ou did not get the deflection she was aiming for.
India’s only big opportunity came in the 29th minute but Monika, following a pass from Gurjit, was unable to intercept.
India got a penalty corner right at the start of the third quarter but drag-flicker Gurjit did not get the desired result. A third penalty corner was awarded to India in the 39th minute but Gurjit could not do much again, flicking it wide.
Two minutes later, another opportunity was squandered as Gurjit shot to the right did not have the power to fly past the Chinese goalkeeper.
Reena Khokar went for a reverse hit at the stroke of third quarter but the rasping shot missed the target. Otherwise, it was another drab 15 minute session with both teams lacking the fluidity in their game.
In the do-or-die fourth quarter, India earned as many as three corners in a jiffy. On the third attempt, Gurjit finally got it right as her shot flew past the goalkeeper and found the top of the net.