All set: India has an experienced core in goalkeeper Savita, defenders Nikki and Sushila, midfielders Salima and Neha Goyal, and forward Navneet and will use the tournament as a launch pad for the Asian Games.
| Photo Credit: HockeyIndia
An experienced Indian women’s hockey team will head to the Netherlands and Belgium for the 16th edition of the women’s FIH World Cup, starting on Friday, with renewed confidence, yet with tempered expectations.
A World Cup participation usually ushers in a sense of hope and anticipation for a nation’s contingent. But India’s tournament history, recent performances and a strong pool of title contenders offers little optimism as the current side aims to improve on a best-ever fourth-place finish, achieved at the inaugural edition in 1974.
After an uncertain period at the start of the year, the return of a rejuvenated Sjoerd Marijne, who masterminded the team’s fourth-place finish in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has brought about improved results.
World Cup qualification was secured on home soil before producing a perfect run to clinch the FIH Nations Cup title to earn promotion back to the Pro League for next season.
For Marijne, however, the World Cup offers a platform to fine-tune the team’s plans and conditioning for a more significant goal on the horizon: the Asian Games, which begins three weeks after the tournament. Gold medal in Japan will seal a return to the Olympics, after its failure to qualify in 2024.
Ranked ninth in the world, India is presented with an ideal tune-up, with China (world no. 4) — the 2022 Asian Games champion and 2024 Olympics runner-up — drawn in the same first round group alongside England (7) and South Africa (18).
China beat India, under former head coach Harendra Singh, twice at the Asia Cup last year and will want to underline its own credentials for a world title by making an emphatic start in their opening encounter.
India will come to bank heavily on its experienced core. Goalkeeper Savita Punia, defenders Nikki Pradhan and Sushila Chanu, midfielders Salima Tete and Neha Goyal, and forward Navneet Kaur bring plenty of tournament know-how and ability on the big stage.
The goal-scoring form of Navneet in open play and from Penalty Corners will be vital to India’s slim chances of battling it out for a podium place rather than entering the classification round for places between 9 and 16.
Progression into the second round isn’t going to make things any easier. A potentially daunting match-up against co-host Netherlands and one of Australia / Chile / Japan awaits.
There is no bigger favourite for the title than the Dutch, who are the three-time defending champion, aiming to add a 10th world crown to their burgeoning legacy in the women’s game.
India’s first round fixtures: vs China (Aug. 16) – 4:30 p.m.
vs South Africa (Aug. 18) – 6:30 p.m.
vs England (Aug. 20) – 6:30 p.m. (all times IST).
Published – August 13, 2026 08:22 pm IST
