Savita Punia Prepares for Asian Games Final with Focus on Gold and Olympic Qualification

As the Indian women's hockey team prepares for the Asian Games final against China, goalkeeper Savita Punia reflects on her past experiences and the importance of focus and discipline. With aspirations for gold and direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the team is determined to learn from previous mistakes. Savita emphasizes the need for mentorship from senior players and a disciplined approach to achieve their ambitious goals. This final is not just about winning; it's about making history and securing a brighter future for Indian hockey.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 2, 2026, 15:32 IST

Savita Punia Reflects on Past Experiences

Veteran Indian hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia shared her thoughts on competing in the Asian Games final for the second time, emphasizing the importance of focus and discipline. She recalled how the team lacked concentration during the gold medal match eight years ago, and how senior players are now instilling these values in the younger members of the squad.

Aiming for Gold Against China

The Indian women's hockey team is set to pursue their second Asian Games gold medal, having previously won in 1982. They will face China in the title match on Friday at 3:30 PM IST. The stakes are significant, as the winner will secure a direct spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

India reached the final after defeating South Korea 2-0 in the semifinals. Since their gold medal in 1982, the team has made seven podium appearances, including runner-up finishes in 1998 and 2018, the latter being a narrow 2-1 loss to Japan after a close 1-0 victory over China.

Mentorship and Learning from the Past

In a video shared by Hockey India, Savita discussed how players from the 2018 final are mentoring the younger athletes, focusing on discipline and concentration, especially after the lessons learned from their previous experience.

Savita acknowledged that the team lost some focus before the title match eight years ago, and emphasized the need to approach each game with full concentration this time.

Setting Ambitious Goals

As she prepares for her fourth Asian Games, Savita highlighted that the team's aspirations extend beyond merely reaching the final. They are determined to win gold, make history, and secure qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.

Savita stated, "Reaching the final is just the beginning; our ultimate goal is to win. We have reflected on our past performances and set clear targets for this tournament, especially after our success in the FIH Nations Cup and a commendable fifth-place finish in the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup."

She concluded by expressing the significance of directly qualifying for the Olympics, which would save them extensive preparation time, allowing them to focus solely on the upcoming games.

Final Thoughts

Savita emphasized the team's discipline and readiness, stating, "We are all set for this challenge, and our main target is clear."