Asian Games 2023 top contenders: India Women’s Hockey preview, schedule, streaming details, squad

After its best performance at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian Women’s Hockey team is ready to reclaim what they lost in Jakarta 2018.

A close 1-2 loss to eventual gold medallists Japan handed India the second spot but since then, the Women in Blue have stepped up their game.

In the next marquee event, the delayed 2020 Olympics, India gave it their all. They faced tough defeats, first in the semifinal against Argentina and then at the hands of Great Britain in the bronze medal match.

But number 4 was their best finish at the Olympics, since 1980.

The team followed it up by bronze medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as well as the Asia Cup in the same year.

They ended their year as champions of the FIH Women’s Nations Cup, a qualifier for the FIH Pro League tournament.

Currently ranked 7th in the world, the 18-member Indian women's hockey team will be led by goalkeeper Savita Punia.

A gold at the continental level will seal Team India’s Paris 2024 berth. If they fail to take the coveted top spot, the January 2024 Olympics Qualifiers will be their last chance to do so.

Experienced Baljeet Kaur and Jyoti Chhatri are the two players, who were part of the tour of Germany and Spain in July 2023, missed the bus.

The Indians are placed in Pool A along with Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore while reigning champions Japan, hosts China, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia are placed in Pool B.

They will open their campaign against Singapore on September 27.

Where to watch:

The Asian Games will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network and can be streamed online on the Sony LIV App.

Schedule of India Women:

All in Indian Standard Time (IST)

September 27: India vs Singapore - 10:15 AM
September 29: India vs Malaysia - 4:00 PM
October 01: India vs Korea - 1:30 PM
October 03: India vs Hong Kong - 07:45 AM

The final is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 07th at 4:00 PM IST

ASIAN GAMES SQUAD:

Savita (captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam, Deepika, Lalremsiami, Monika, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Nisha, Sonika, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Deep Grace Ekka (vice-captain), Vandana Katariya, Sangita Kumari, Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke, Nikki Pradhan, Sushila Chanu, Salima Tete.