The Indian women's hockey team suffered a 4-1 defeat against China in the final of the Women's Asia Cup 2025, missing out on a direct qualification for the 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup. The final was held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Hockey Field in Hangzhou on September 14, 2025.

India started the match strong, with Navneet Kaur scoring in the first minute, converting a penalty corner. This was only the second goal China had conceded in the entire tournament, the other also scored by India’s Mumtaz Khan during the Super 4 stage. However, China responded in the second quarter, with captain Ou Zixia scoring from a penalty corner to level the score.

The second half saw China dominate, with Li Hong scoring in the 41st minute to give the hosts the lead. Zou Meirong and Zhong Jiaqi then added two more goals in the 51st and 52nd minutes, respectively, sealing the victory for China. With this win, China secured their third Women's Asia Cup title and their first since 2009, when they also defeated India in the final. They also confirmed their spot at the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands.

India will now have to go through the qualifiers to try and secure a place in the 2026 World Cup. Throughout the match, China showcased clinical counterattacks and smart play, especially in the second half. While India started aggressively, winning an early penalty corner, they were unable to maintain the momentum.

The Indian team faced difficulties in converting penalty corners, which proved costly. Vaishnavi Phalke's injury also added to India's challenges. Despite the loss, the Indian fans acknowledged the team's effort and determination. This defeat marks India's third Asia Cup final against China, with India having won the last encounter in 2017. China has now won the Asia Cup three times, joining Japan and Korea as the teams with the most titles.