India concluded its campaign at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on a high note, securing a 3-1 victory over Germany in their fifth/sixth place classification match on Thursday. The result earned the national squad a fifth-place finish overall, marking India’s best performance at the prestigious tournament since 1974.
The team navigated a challenging route through the initial phases of the competition. In the opening round, India finished second in its pool—a group that included China, South Africa, and England. The team showcased its offensive power early on with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa, alongside steady draws against both England and China to advance.
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Moving into the second round, India faced tough opposition in a pool comprising China, Australia, and the Netherlands. A loss to the Netherlands combined with a goalless draw against Australia ended India’s hopes of reaching the semifinals, sending the squad to the fifth/sixth place playoff against Germany.
Throughout the tournament, the team demonstrated varied attacking options across the roster. Forward Navneet Kaur led the offensive effort as India’s highest goal-scorer, finding the back of the net four times. Deepika Kumari contributed two goals, while five other players—Ishika Chaudhary, Lalremsiami, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, and Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam—scored one goal each.
