Asia Cup Hockey 2017: Indian eves start as favourites against China in title clash

India shall be taking on China in the finals of the Asia Cup Women's hockey tournament later on Saturday.

India had comprehensively beaten defending champions Japan 4-2 in the first semifinals while the Chinese had got the better of their East Asian neighbors Korea.

India, who will be playing their fourth final, won the title in 2004 and finished runners-up in 1999 and 2009. China have won the Asia Cup twice, in 1989 and 2009. In the 2009 final, China beat India 5-3. The winner of the 2017 edition will qualify for the 2018 World Cup in England.

India has been in stellar form all through the tournament winning all their group games and the knockouts. India topped Group A after thrashing their opponents Singapore, China and Malaysia by comprehensive margins. India routed Kazakhstan 7-1 in the quarters and then knocked out defending champs Japan in the semis to book their berth in the summit clash. 

Goals from Gurjit Kaur (7th, 9th minutes), Navjot Kaur (9th) and Lalremsiami (38th) underlined India's victory, which took them to a fourth Asia Cup final; India won the title in 2004 and finished runners-up in 1999 and 2009.