Hangzhou [China], September 14 (ANI): The Women’s Asia Cup 2025 got here to a conclusion on Sunday with China profitable the ultimate in opposition to India to assert the gold medal and qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026.
The competitors bought underway on September 5 with an preliminary pool stage. China completed atop Pool A standings profitable all three matches with a hanging +31 aim distinction, whereas maintaining three clear sheets! Korea took second place in Pool A with two wins and one loss. India and Japan went unbeaten in Pool B, with two wins in opposition to Thailand and Singapore, whereas the 2 sides drew their head-to-head matchup. India topped the pool by advantage of their superior aim distinction. As prime two finishers within the first pool stage, China, Korea, India and Japan progressed to the following stage; the Super 4’s swimming pools stage.
In the Super 4’s stage, all groups confronted one another as soon as. China completed on the prime of the standings following three extra wins taking them to 9 factors. India completed second with a win in opposition to Korea, one other riveting draw in opposition to Japan and a loss to China. Japan and Korea performed out a 1-1 draw that proved pricey for each side, relegating each groups to the bronze medal match, whereas India would tackle China for gold.
Korea began the bronze medal match because the brighter of the 2 sides and scored the opening aim of the competition via Yeongeun Park within the first quarter. Japan pressed the accelerator after the quarter break and at last bought stage halfway via quarter two, with Shiho Kobayakawa placing ending touches to a whole group transfer. Both groups performed cautiously following the leveller till Japan discovered the breakthrough within the ultimate quarter via Hiroka Murayama and whereas Korea received a few penalty corners, they could not convert them into objectives, leaving Japan to stroll away with a 2-1 win and the bronze medal.
The ultimate bought off to a frenetic begin with India scoring within the opening minute via a Navneet Kaur penalty nook. China nevertheless, weren’t slowed down by conceding early and went about their enterprise calmly. Their fixed strain paid off within the second quarter as captain Ou Zixia scored the leveller from China’s fifth penalty nook of the sport. While India performed their finest hockey within the third quarter, it was China that went forward, scoring from a fast counter assault off a saved Indian penalty nook try. Two extra objectives within the ultimate quarter made the lead a cushty one for China, a lot to the delight of the incredible house assist, as they walked away with a 4-1 win, the gold medal and a spot on the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026.
Alyson Annan, coach of the Chinese group, talking after their win mentioned: ‘Qualifying for the World Cup straight via the Asia Cup was actually vital for us as a result of there’s Pro League, Asian Games and the World Cup subsequent 12 months, so avoiding having to undergo the qualifiers in a busy 12 months is certainly good for us. This wasn’t a straightforward match for us regardless of the outcomes, and the benefit of enjoying in house situations with nice fan assist positively helped us.’
China has now grow to be the eighth group to qualify for the ladies’s FIH Hockey World Cup, Belgium and the Netherlands 2026. Belgium and the Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the occasion, gained direct qualification. Germany and Argentina certified via the earlier two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. The USA secured qualification via the Pan American Cup, Spain certified from the Eurohockey Championship and New Zealand certified via the Oceania Cup. The Continental championship in Africa will decide yet one more direct qualifier for the occasion, with the remaining seven groups qualifying via the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.
Based on their efficiency on the Pan American Cup, EuroHockey Championships, Oceania Cup and Asia Cup, the next girls’s groups have certified for the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026: Uruguay, Chile, Canada, Ireland, England, France, Italy, Wales, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, India, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. (ANI)