India's winning momentum was halted by favourites China as the Mamta Kharab-led side went down 2-4 to their higher-ranked rivals in the last Pool A match of the women's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Hong Kong on Thursday.
Tang Chung Ling scored a brace while Li Hong Xia Zhou Wan Feng netted one each for China. For India, Jasjeet Kaur and Saba Anjum sounded the board once each in the tightly-fought match at the King's Park.
China used their pace and power from the outset and opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a field goal scored by Xia following a goalmouth melee.
But India were quick to fightback as Surinder Kaur broke the Chinese defence on the left flank with superb stickwork to put the ball to Jasjeet, who made no mistake with to level the scores in the 7th minute.
India's best passage of play followed as the pace slowed to their liking.
China also missed several opportunities with two shots hitting the upright.
The partisan crowd went ballistic when Saba Anjum netted India's second goal from open play after Surinder made yet another run down the left to make the score 2-1 in India's favour.
But the Chinese continued to use their superior pace and power and were rewarded in the 33rd minute when Tang Chun Ling converted a penalty corner for the equaliser 2-2 as the teams went into the break.
After resumption of play, China resorted to their speedy game as the Indians showed signs of tiring. In the 47th minute, Feng put China back into the lead when she converted a penalty corner.
Then Ling completed her brace to seal victory for China.
In Saturday's semi-final clashes, India face the formidable Koreans while China take on Japan.
