In a nerve-shredding final that held a nation breathless, the Indian women’s hockey team stared straight at history, took a punt on their ability, talent, skill and ran down reigning Asian Games champions China who, just by the way, are also the Olympic silver medallists.

Forty-four years of near-misses along with the high of the Tokyo Olympics, all came down to 60 minutes on the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium.