India’s aggressive approach that worked so well against Korea on Wednesday did not have the same effect when they came up against a stronger Chinese side. On Thursday in Hangzhou, the Indian women’s hockey team, led by Salima Tete, suffered a 1-4 defeat but still remain in contention. Their next match against Japan on Saturday will be crucial, as a win or even a draw will keep hopes alive for a potential rematch with China in the final on Sunday.

 

India did manage to find a breakthrough that no other team had achieved in the tournament. In the third quarter, Mumtaz Khan finished off a quick passing move, transitioning smoothly from midfield to the edge of the circle before unleashing a powerful tomahawk strike. The shot left the Chinese goalkeeper with little time to react and marked the first goal conceded by China in five matches. It was a moment that rewarded India’s persistence in attack.

 

But the game also highlighted costly mistakes. Early in the second half, with China only one goal ahead, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke attempted a square pass across her own defence instead of clearing wide. The misjudgment handed the ball to Chen, who calmly slotted past goalkeeper Bichu Devi in a one-on-one situation. It was a lapse that proved damaging, especially as India had gone into halftime with the momentum after playing fluid, attacking hockey.

 

Even earlier, India had given away an easy goal. In the fourth minute, Jyothi failed to clear effectively, and China’s top scorer Zou Meirong capitalized with a simple finish to put the hosts ahead.