JUST IN: The Asian Games women's hockey final between India and China has been delayed by 45 minutes. NDTV has learnt that the Indian team faced a massive delay due to traffic congestion caused by an accident en route to the stadium. The accident was unrelated to the team.

India reached the venue at 6:45 PM local time, with the final scheduled to start at 7 PM local time. Hence, it has been postponed and will start at 7:45 PM local time.

Here's India's starting XI to take on China in the Asian Games women's hockey final:

The Indian Women's Hockey Team is ready to take on defending champions China in the Asian Games 2026 final!

One win away from gold and ending a 44-year wait. Let's go!... pic.twitter.com/LhiwmNdoZ4

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 2, 2026

India and China faced off in the Women's Hockey World Cup just a couple of months ago. It was a riveting encounter, with the match ending 2-2. India took the lead twice, but China fought back both times.

India's Deepika Sehrawat is by far and away the top goalscorer in women's hockey at the ongoing Asiad, with 21 goals. She also smashed the record for the most goals by a player in a single Asiad match, when she slammed nine goals against Thailand. Can she step up on the big day and lead India to victory?

We are about 15 minutes away from the scheduled start time of the women's hockey final at Asian Games 2026 between India and China. We are still awaiting confirmation regarding the starting lineups.

India have scored 68 goals and conceded just three so far in the women's hockey tournament at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. 20 goals against Thailand, 19 against Uzbekistan and 17 against Indonesia! In this regard, India have been, by far and away, the standout.

India have won a medal in women's hockey at each of the last three Asian Games and in four of the last five tournaments. That streak is guaranteed to be extended this year with at least silver assured. 

China is undoubtedly going to be the toughest test for India at the Asian Games 2026. They are the defending gold medalists and the highest-ranked Asian side by the FIH. 

India have won every single match so far at the ongoing Asian Games. They won five out of five in Pool B, thrashing Thailand 20-1, Uzbekistan 19-0 and Indonesia 17-1. They then bested South Korea 2-0 in a tight semi-final to set up a summit clash with defending gold medalists China.

India are aiming to win the gold medal in women's hockey at the Asian Games for the first time in 44 years. They've only won it just once before, in 1982, when women's hockey was first played at the Asian Games. 

Since then, India have two silvers and four bronzes, but the coveted gold is still missing,

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the women's hockey final at Asian Games 2026! India face off against China in the battle for gold, in what is set to be a highly-anticipated encounter.

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live updates from the match!