The women’s hockey final between India and China at the Asian Games was delayed by 45 minutes on Friday (October 2) after the teams’ buses were caught in a traffic snarl on the way to the venue.An official, speaking on c…

The women’s hockey final between India and China at the Asian Games was delayed by 45 minutes on Friday (October 2) after the teams’ buses were caught in a traffic snarl on the way to the venue.An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an accident unrelated to the team buses had triggered the congestion, delaying the players’ arrival at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, which is hosting both the men’s and women’s hockey competitions.Asian Games 2026 | India seeks first women’s hockey gold, faces China in high stakesThe match, originally scheduled to start at 7pm started at 7.45pm an announcement at the venue confirmed.India are up against defending champions China, with a chance to end a 44-year wait for the Asian Games gold and secure direct qualification to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.India have won the women’s hockey gold only once, in 1982, and have since come close to reclaiming the title on two occasions. They finished runners-up in 1998 and 2018, losing to South Korea and Japan respectively. The team will be hoping to end that long wait with a victory over China in the final.The men’s team are also in the final where they will face Malaysia. India are the defending champions in the men’s section. (With agency inputs)

Source: Deccan Herald