Kakamigahara, Oct. 1 -- Forty-four years after Indian women's hockey created history by winning the Asian Games gold medal in 1982, the Indian team stands on the threshold of another golden chapter.

On Friday, India will take on defending champions China in the women's hockey gold-medal match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, with not just continental supremacy but a place at the LA 2028 Olympic Games at stake.

Since that memorable triumph in 1982, India have twice come close to reclaiming the Asian Games title. They reached the final in 1998 and 2018, only to return with silver medals after defeats to South Korea and Japan, respectively. Now, a new generation has the opportunity to end that long wait and reclaim the top spot for In...