India, Oct. 2 -- Forty-four years of waiting, a quiet longing and immense perseverance culminated in 60 agonising yet beautiful minutes in Kakamigahara on Friday.

The Indian women's hockey team did the unthinkable at the 20th Asian Games as they beat defending champions and Paris Olympics silver medallists 1-0 in the final to no just win a gold medal but also book a ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This was India women's first gold at the Asian Games since winning the yellow metal at the 1982 Asiad at home.

The stage was set for a titanic final between the two best teams in Asia - world No.4 China against No.8 India, an outfit reborn and on a fast and furious upward trajectory.

Drama filled the air even before pushback as an ac...