Pune, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian women’s hockey team celebrated a remarkable achievement at the 2026 Asian Games by winning the gold medal after a 44-year wait. They triumphed over China with a narrow 1-0 victory in the final match. Rutuja Pisal, a key player on the team, expressed her joy, stating, “Winning gold after 44 years feels incredible. The support from Hockey Maharashtra made this possible.”
Reflecting on the final, Rutuja shared that the team played fearlessly and executed their game plan effectively. She recalled discussing the match with her parents beforehand, who encouraged her to stay calm and give her best. “They told me to put my heart into it and make India proud,” she said.
The team had anticipated facing China in the final, having previously drawn 2-2 against them in the World Cup. Rutuja noted that the team felt confident, sensing that their opponents were intimidated. “The only concern was whether we could replicate our hard work in the final,” she added.
After the victory, Rutuja received an emotional call from her father, who expressed immense pride in her accomplishment. “He said I have brought honor to our name,” she recalled.
Rutuja also emphasized the importance of gender equality in sports, stating, “There should be no distinction between boys and girls. Girls should have the freedom to pursue their dreams, whether in sports or any other field.” She compared hockey to cricket, advocating for a perspective that values all sports equally.
In another highlight of the Games, the Indian men’s hockey team also claimed gold by defeating Malaysia 5-1 in their final. Goalkeeper Suraj Karkera expressed gratitude for their success and the support they received. “We are thrilled to have won the gold and qualified for the Olympics. There was no fear or pressure, just hard work and preparation,” he said.
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