A Historic Finish
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team concluded the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 in Belgium and the Netherlands with a historic fifth-place finish, the best result the nation has recorded since 1974.
Road to the Asian Games
Building on that momentum, the squad is now set to compete at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where captain Salima Tete and head coach Sjoerd Marijne hope to capture the gold medal and earn a direct berth at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Recent highlights include a silver medal at the World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, an unbeaten run that lasted until the final, and a triumphant victory at the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland, where the team defeated powerhouse nations such as the United States, Japan, and New Zealand to claim the title.
That success propelled India into the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League, and the roster blends seasoned veterans like Savita, Navneet Kaur and Lalremsiami with emerging talents including Nikki Pradhan and Deepika Soreng.
In Japan, the team will be placed in Pool B alongside Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Uzbekistan, with the knockout stage beginning on 30 September and the gold‑medal match slated for 2 October.
Salima Tete has stressed that the path to gold lies in consistency, discipline and delivering strong performances in every match.
With a mix of experience and youthful energy, the Indian women’s side aims to translate its recent breakthroughs into a sustained era of success on the world stage.