The only time they were in the final earlier was in the 1982 New Delhi Games where Indian women bagged the gold on the discipline's debut.

They ended up with the bronze four years later at Seoul and finished fourth at Hiroshima in 1994. Indian women did not make the trip to Beijing Asian Games in 1990.

All India needed in the last round-robin match today with Japan was a draw to earn the right to challenge defending champions South Korea on Friday.

A fourth-minute goal by Kamla Dalal did the job. The equaliser came from Japan's Keiko Muira, two minutes from the end, but the former champions prevailed on better goal difference.

India had scored 24 goals and conceded nine for tally of plus 15 against Japan's plus eight from 16 for and eight against. The Indian girls couldeasily have won by a big margin due to their superiority, but the Indians were a subdued lot today.

Added to that was the problem of some seemingly harsh decision against them by Chinese umpire Zhang Jun which increased pressure on them and forced India to crack under it.

In the first match of the day, Korea had beaten China 3-2 after trailing 0-2 and showing initial reluctance to force the pace, to emerge at the top of the table with a clean slate.

The Indian women were all over the Japanese circle and when defender Magumi Suzuki cleared poorly a shot from Pritam Rani, the ball gently rolled to Kamla Dalal who took her time to put it in.

After establishing that early lead, the Indians seemed to be unable to force the pace. By the break, each side had forced three penalty corners, all in vain.

The Indians stepped up pressure after the change of ends and Jyoti Kullu, off Kamla Dalal, was blocked by custodian Kumi Mateui. Indian girls made a hash of their fourth and last penalty corner, nine minutesfrom the end, as Nidhi Khullar drove out.

That set the stage for the Japanese to mount pressure on the Indian defence. Chinese umpire Jun awarded four penalty corners against India in six minutes. The Japanese struck pay dirt with the last.

India meet Korea in the final on Friday. Japan will clash with China for the bronze prior to the title-clash.