In a gripping Super 4s encounter at the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025, India played out a 1-1 draw against Japan, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the final.
The match, held on Saturday, saw India take an early lead through Beauty Dung Dung in the 7th minute, before Japan equalized late in the game via Shiho Kobayakawa in the 58th minute.
India started strong, with Ishika Chaudhary nearly scoring in the opening minutes. The breakthrough came when Neha’s shot was deflected into the net by Beauty Dung Dung. India maintained pressure throughout the first quarter and earned a penalty corner, but couldn’t convert.
The second half saw Japan intensify their attack, eventually breaching India’s defense in the final minutes. Despite the draw, India remains in contention for the final, depending on the outcome of the China vs Korea match. A win for China or a narrow loss by less than three goals could see India through.
The match also marked a milestone for veteran forward Navneet Kaur, who completed 200 international caps. She is currently India’s second-highest scorer in the tournament.
