At just 18, Sakshi Rana walked into her first senior FIH Women's World Cup carrying little more than the belief that she belonged. She walked out of it with a memorable goal, a historic fifth-place finish and the conviction that India’s next generation is ready to take women’s hockey forward. The young forward has been steadily making her mark on the international stage. She made her senior India debut in February last year and later served as vice-captain of the junior team at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago in December, scoring three goals in the tournament.&nbsp;Her progress continued at the senior level, where she has scored two goals in 12 appearances and played an important role in India’s qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium &amp; Netherlands 2026. But the World Cup in particular gave Rana a moment she will remember for a long time. Her goal against South Africa was one of the highlights of India’s campaign and was recognised as the FIH Goal of the Day. Recalling the moment, Rana admitted that there was little time to think.&nbsp;“I think, when the rebound came, I thought that it was a goal at first so I didn't think much about it. I just thought that I will give it a try. So, I just tried it," she said in an exclusive interview with WION. The goal arrived almost instinctively, and so did her celebration. When that rebound came, my reaction was so quick. I didn't even realize it. I mean, it was very quick. It was a World Cup goal.”&nbsp;Her World Cup journey was also about learning to handle pressure. After India’s draw to Australia, the team had a meeting in which the coach urged the players not to overthink the situation. “The coach told us to don't take any kind of pressure. Play your natural game. If you think too much, you are under pressure.” That advice resonated with Rana, who was experiencing the intensity of a senior World Cup for the first time.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wion-exclusive-a-lot-of-young-talent-sjoerd-marijne-on-the-next-generation-driving-india-s-hockey-rise-1787930631049">WION Exclusive | ‘A lot of young talent’: Sjoerd Marijne on the next generation driving India’s hockey rise</a><h2>Watch Sakshi's goal against South Africa</h2>

The presence of experienced players also helped. Rana spoke warmly about the senior members of the Indian team, including Savita, Salima, Nikki and Navneet, saying their support gave the younger players confidence. “I mean, we get motivation from them, from the seniors. Among the senior players, Rana shared a particularly close equation with Neha, whom she knows from the same hockey ground and university. “We are from the same ground. We are from the same university. So, we know each other well.” For Rana, however, the World Cup was not just about her own breakthrough. It was also evidence of the depth emerging in Indian women’s hockey.&nbsp;India’s campaign featured 11 World Cup debutants, many of whom had gained valuable exposure through the Women's Hockey India League. Rana herself has experienced the benefits of the league and believes it has become an important bridge between domestic hockey and the demands of international competition. “There is a lot of pressure in the World Cup and the game is played very fast." She believes the intensity of HIL prepares young players for exactly that environment. “HIL is very important for us. The experience, the physical toughness, etc we get that in HIL teaches us how to play in big tournaments and big matches.”&nbsp;It is perhaps that experience that helped Rana and the other young players approach their first World Cup without being overawed by the occasion. “We didn't think that we are young. It's okay. It's was our first World Cup. So, we didn't think that we are young.”Instead, the youngsters entered the tournament with ambition. “We wanted to play in the final. But, we couldn't play. But, everyone had the same target. And, we all have the same goal going forward.”&nbsp;For Rana, that mindset could prove crucial to India’s future. She believes the group of young players who made their World Cup debuts can eventually take the team to the highest level. “Yes, absolutely. Everyone has the same target.” Her own most memorable moment from the tournament? There was no hesitation. “I think it will be the goal against South Africa.”&nbsp;It was a goal that announced Rana on the biggest stage, but perhaps more importantly, it reflected the fearlessness she brought to her first World Cup. That confidence has been building for some time. Rana was also nominated for the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2025, recognition that she described as a source of motivation rather than pressure. “I was delighted when I found out. It felt like the hard work that I’ve been putting in is not going unnoticed."&nbsp;Now, after a breakthrough World Cup campaign, the teenager has more than an award nomination or a Goal of the Day to look back on. She has a taste of what it takes to compete at the highest level, and a growing belief that India’s young brigade can go even further. For Sakshi, the message is simple: work hard, trust the process and, when the moment comes, play your game.

Sakshi Rana opens up about her World Cup debut, Goal of the Day against South Africa, HIL’s impact and India’s next generation of women hockey stars

At just 18, Sakshi Rana walked into her first senior FIH Women's World Cup carrying little more than the belief that she belonged. She walked out of it with a memorable goal, a historic fifth-place finish and the conviction that India’s next generation is ready to take women’s hockey forward. The young forward has been steadily making her mark on the international stage. She made her senior India debut in February last year and later served as vice-captain of the junior team at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago in December, scoring three goals in the tournament. Her progress continued at the senior level, where she has scored two goals in 12 appearances and played an important role in India’s qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. But the World Cup in particular gave Rana a moment she will remember for a long time. Her goal against South Africa was one of the highlights of India’s campaign and was recognised as the FIH Goal of the Day. Recalling the moment, Rana admitted that there was little time to think. “I think, when the rebound came, I thought that it was a goal at first so I didn't think much about it. I just thought that I will give it a try. So, I just tried it," she said in an exclusive interview with WION. The goal arrived almost instinctively, and so did her celebration. When that rebound came, my reaction was so quick. I didn't even realize it. I mean, it was very quick. It was a World Cup goal.” Her World Cup journey was also about learning to handle pressure. After India’s draw to Australia, the team had a meeting in which the coach urged the players not to overthink the situation. “The coach told us to don't take any kind of pressure. Play your natural game. If you think too much, you are under pressure.” That advice resonated with Rana, who was experiencing the intensity of a senior World Cup for the first time. Also Read: WION Exclusive | ‘A lot of young talent’: Sjoerd Marijne on the next generation driving India’s hockey rise Watch Sakshi's goal against South Africa

Sakshi Rana reflects on her breakthrough World Cup, her Goal of the Day, HIL’s impact and India’s fearless young generation after a historic fifth-place finish

WION Exclusive: ‘We didn’t think we were young’, says 18-year-old Sakshi Rana on her World Cup breakthrough, HIL and India’s next generation

Hockey India has announced a cash reward of INR 50 lakh for the Indian women’s hockey team after their historic fifth-place finish at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. The reward was announced on Friday, a day after Salima Tete-led India beat World No. 5 Germany 3-1 in the 5th/6th place match in Amstelveen. The result gave India their best World Cup finish since 1974, when they finished fourth in the tournament’s inaugural edition.&nbsp;India had a strong campaign against several higher-ranked teams and suffered only one defeat. They played out draws against China, England and Australia, while also securing a big 6-1 win over South Africa. They then ended their campaign with a victory over Germany under Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-aakash-chopra-interview-t20-captaincy-snub-1787996852544">‘How can this happen?’: Suryakumar Yadav opens up on India snub after T20 World Cup triumph</a>&nbsp;Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey praised the team’s achievement and said, “This is a historic result for Indian women’s hockey. To finish fifth at a World Cup after 52 years is a testament to the hard work, resilience and fighting spirit this team has shown throughout the tournament.”&nbsp;“On behalf of Hockey India, I am pleased to announce a cash award of INR 50 lakh for the team as a token of our appreciation, and I hope this inspires the players to keep raising the bar,” he added.

Hockey India has rewarded the Indian women’s hockey team with an INR 50 lakh cash prize for finishing fifth at the World Cup. The team secured fifth place after defeating Germany in their final match.

Hockey India has announced a cash reward of INR 50 lakh for the Indian women’s hockey team after their historic fifth-place finish at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. The reward was announced on Friday, a day after Salima Tete-led India beat World No. 5 Germany 3-1 in the 5th/6th place match in Amstelveen. The result gave India their best World Cup finish since 1974, when they finished fourth in the tournament’s inaugural edition. India had a strong campaign against several higher-ranked teams and suffered only one defeat. They played out draws against China, England and Australia, while also securing a big 6-1 win over South Africa. They then ended their campaign with a victory over Germany under Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne. Also Read - ‘How can this happen?’: Suryakumar Yadav opens up on India snub after T20 World Cup triumph Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey praised the team’s achievement and said, “This is a historic result for Indian women’s hockey. To finish fifth at a World Cup after 52 years is a testament to the hard work, resilience and fighting spirit this team has shown throughout the tournament.” “On behalf of Hockey India, I am pleased to announce a cash award of INR 50 lakh for the team as a token of our appreciation, and I hope this inspires the players to keep raising the bar,” he added.

Hockey India has rewarded the Indian women’s hockey team with an INR 50 lakh cash prize for finishing fifth at the World Cup. The team secured fifth place after defeating Germany in their final match.

Hockey India announces INR 50 lakh cash reward for women’s team

India’s historic fifth-place finish at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup has given the team belief that it can now compete with the world’s best, but head coach Sjoerd Marijne believes there is still a significant gap to bridge. Speaking after India’s memorable campaign, Marijne admitted that one of his biggest questions entering the tournament was how his side would fare against the top teams in the world. “I was very curious about our level against top teams,” Marijne said. “I knew, and I told in many interviews, we are the best of the rest.”&nbsp;India had already shown its quality by winning the Nations Cup and securing qualification for the World Cup. But the tournament in 2026 offered a different test, one against the established heavyweights of international hockey. And the Indian team responded. Marijne saw enough against China, England and the Netherlands to convince him that India could go toe-to-toe with the world's elite. “I felt against China, England, even the Netherlands, that we really can match with them. And some moments we were even better,” he said while speaking exclusively to WION.&nbsp;That belief could prove to be one of the biggest takeaways from India’s fifth-place finish. But Marijne is not satisfied. For the Dutchman, the next step is clear: India must become more dominant with the ball. “Everybody can see we can defend really well, but that's not enough to win matches,” he said, pointing specifically to India's draw against Australia. The coach believes India’s defensive resilience is now a strength, but possession and ball control need to improve if the team wants to consistently challenge the top-ranked sides.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/treat-him-with-dignity-pat-cummins-backs-gavaskar-kapil-dev-s-plea-for-imran-khan-s-medical-treatment-1787922731543">'Treat him with dignity': Pat Cummins backs Gavaskar, Kapil Dev’s plea for Imran Khan’s medical treatment</a>&nbsp;And Marijne believes the answer begins with something deceptively simple, the basics. “The difference between the Netherlands and India is the basic skills about receiving and passing,” he explained. “Most of the times we need three touches and they only need two touches.” That extra touch, according to Marijne, can make all the difference at the highest level. “Their game is just faster. Their basic skills, every ball stays low. No bumpy passes. The moment they receive the ball, it's in full control.”&nbsp;Marijne also offered a pointed assessment of Indian hockey's traditional focus on individual brilliance. “In India in general, we are very busy with individual skills, with the Indian dribble, with dodging and these kind of things. These are extras,” he said.“First, the other thing needs to be good.” While the coach sees plenty to improve, the World Cup also offered him several reasons for optimism. A number of young players stepped onto the biggest stage for the first time, with Marijne highlighting Sakshi and Ishika and among those who impressed him.&nbsp;The emergence of those players has added another dimension to an Indian team that Marijne believes has found the right balance between youth and experience. “The difference is like we have a lot of young talent in the team,” he said. “And I think the balance in the team is good with experienced players, with senior players and with junior players.”&nbsp;The senior players, meanwhile, have played a role that goes far beyond their performances on the pitch. Marijne called them “crucial” to the culture he wants to build within the team, praising them for guiding the younger players while also leading by example. And he singled out former captain and goalkeeper Savita for special praise for the way she has helped younger goalkeeper Bichu. “You see how Savita is guiding Bichu. It's amazing,” Marijne said.&nbsp;For Marijne, that willingness from senior players to help their own competition is what can ultimately strengthen Indian hockey.“If she becomes better, I need to do better and then we get the best,” he said. It is a philosophy that extends beyond the World Cup result itself. Marijne also credited the improved support structure around the Indian team, pointing to the larger coaching staff, strength and conditioning support and specialist coaches, with Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India playing an important role.&nbsp;His standards, however, remain uncompromising. “My demands are very high. The benchmark is very high,” he said. “When I'm not happy with it, I will tell them. And I'm very direct. And they know I always want more, more and more.”&nbsp;For a team that has just secured a historic fifth-place finish, Marijne's message is strikingly clear: celebrate the breakthrough, but don't mistake it for the destination. The ultimate measure of this campaign, he believes, may not even be the result.&nbsp;&nbsp;Years from now, he wants his players to remember the unity they shared. “That it felt that the team was in unity on and off the pitch,” Marijne said. “And that they are connected for life with each other.” India may have finished fifth in the world. But if Marijne gets his way, this will be remembered not as the peak of this team, but as the point from which it began climbing even higher.

Sjoerd Marijne reflects on India’s historic fifth-place finish at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup, young stars, senior players and the road ahead

India’s historic fifth-place finish at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup has given the team belief that it can now compete with the world’s best, but head coach Sjoerd Marijne believes there is still a significant gap to bridge. Speaking after India’s memorable campaign, Marijne admitted that one of his biggest questions entering the tournament was how his side would fare against the top teams in the world. “I was very curious about our level against top teams,” Marijne said. “I knew, and I told in many interviews, we are the best of the rest.” India had already shown its quality by winning the Nations Cup and securing qualification for the World Cup. But the tournament in 2026 offered a different test, one against the established heavyweights of international hockey. And the Indian team responded. Marijne saw enough against China, England and the Netherlands to convince him that India could go toe-to-toe with the world's elite. “I felt against China, England, even the Netherlands, that we really can match with them. And some moments we were even better,” he said while speaking exclusively to WION. That belief could prove to be one of the biggest takeaways from India’s fifth-place finish. But Marijne is not satisfied. For the Dutchman, the next step is clear: India must become more dominant with the ball. “Everybody can see we can defend really well, but that's not enough to win matches,” he said, pointing specifically to India's draw against Australia. The coach believes India’s defensive resilience is now a strength, but possession and ball control need to improve if the team wants to consistently challenge the top-ranked sides. Also Read: 'Treat him with dignity': Pat Cummins backs Gavaskar, Kapil Dev’s plea for Imran Khan’s medical treatment And Marijne believes the answer begins with something deceptively simple, the basics. “The difference between the Netherlands and India is the basic skills about receiving and passing,” he explained. “Most of the times we need three touches and they only need two touches.” That extra touch, according to Marijne, can make all the difference at the highest level. “Their game is just faster. Their basic skills, every ball stays low. No bumpy passes. The moment they receive the ball, it's in full control.” Marijne also offered a pointed assessment of Indian hockey's traditional focus on individual brilliance. “In India in general, we are very busy with individual skills, with the Indian dribble, with dodging and these kind of things. These are extras,” he said. “First, the other thing needs to be good.” While the coach sees plenty to improve, the World Cup also offered him several reasons for optimism. A number of young players stepped onto the biggest stage for the first time, with Marijne highlighting Sakshi and Ishika and among those who impressed him. The emergence of those players has added another dimension to an Indian team that Marijne believes has found the right balance between youth and experience. “The difference is like we have a lot of young talent in the team,” he said. “And I think the balance in the team is good with experienced players, with senior players and with junior players.” The senior players, meanwhile, have played a role that goes far beyond their performances on the pitch. Marijne called them “crucial” to the culture he wants to build within the team, praising them for guiding the younger players while also leading by example. And he singled out former captain and goalkeeper Savita for special praise for the way she has helped younger goalkeeper Bichu. “You see how Savita is guiding Bichu. It's amazing,” Marijne said. For Marijne, that willingness from senior players to help their own competition is what can ultimately strengthen Indian hockey. “If she becomes better, I need to do better and then we get the best,” he said. It is a philosophy that extends beyond the World Cup result itself. Marijne also credited the improved support structure around the Indian team, pointing to the larger coaching staff, strength and conditioning support and specialist coaches, with Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India playing an important role. His standards, however, remain uncompromising. “My demands are very high. The benchmark is very high,” he said. “When I'm not happy with it, I will tell them. And I'm very direct. And they know I always want more, more and more.” For a team that has just secured a historic fifth-place finish, Marijne's message is strikingly clear: celebrate the breakthrough, but don't mistake it for the destination. The ultimate measure of this campaign, he believes, may not even be the result. Years from now, he wants his players to remember the unity they shared. “That it felt that the team was in unity on and off the pitch,” Marijne said. “And that they are connected for life with each other.” India may have finished fifth in the world. But if Marijne gets his way, this will be remembered not as the peak of this team, but as the point from which it began climbing even higher.

Indian women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne reflects on team's historic fifth-place World Cup finish, young stars, senior leadership and what the team must improve next

WION Exclusive | ‘A lot of young talent’: Sjoerd Marijne on the next generation driving India’s hockey rise

The Indian women’s hockey team staged a superb second-half comeback to beat Germany 3-1 and finish fifth at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Stadium on Thursday (Aug 27). The result gave India their best finish in the tournament since they secured fourth place in the inaugural 1974 edition.&nbsp;India came into the 5th/6th place playoff after losing just one match in the competition, however, Germany controlled much of the first half and put India’s attack under pressure.&nbsp;Both teams failed to score in the opening two quarters. Germany created more chances and won several penalty corners, but goalkeeper Bichu Devi and India’s defence kept them at bay.&nbsp;India returned from the break with more attacking intent and completely changed the game in the third quarter.&nbsp;Ishika Chaudhary opened the scoring in the 43rd minute with an excellent reverse-lift finish after making a strong run into the circle.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-did-everything-we-could-shubman-gill-reacts-after-sri-lanka-hold-india-to-draw-in-second-test-1787843646557">'We did everything we could': Shubman Gill reacts after Sri Lanka hold India to draw in second Test</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡! 🇮🇳🔥 From the opening draw against Paris Olympics silver medallists China to a statement 3–1 win over World No. 5 Germany, the Indian Women’s Team has delivered a World Cup campaign that promises bigger things in the future. 🏑❤️<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/HockeyIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HockeyIndia</a>… <a href="https://t.co/jPZ4htuS84">pic.twitter.com/jPZ4htuS84</a>&mdash; Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) <a href="https://x.com/TheHockeyIndia/status/2093008978775359903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

India doubled their lead just a minute later when Navneet Kaur converted their first penalty corner of the match in the 44th minute.&nbsp;Navneet struck again in the 47th minute, calmly lifting the ball past the German goalkeeper to put India 3-0 ahead.&nbsp;Germany pulled one goal back through Lynn Krings in the 59th minute after she scored from a rebound. However, India defended well in the closing stages to seal a 3-1 victory.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">VIDEO | Amstelveen, Netherlands: Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia reacts to the Indian women&#39;s hockey team&#39;s performance as it defeated Germany 3-1 in a classification match to finish a credible fifth at the FIH World Cup. &quot;Had we played the kind of hockey we played today… <a href="https://t.co/lpCEaM4QzR">pic.twitter.com/lpCEaM4QzR</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2093014990211137978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-wtc-points-table-2025-27-where-does-india-stand-after-sri-lanka-draw-1787834641348">WTC Points Table 2025-27: Where does India stand after Sri Lanka draw?</a>&nbsp;Savita Punia also made important saves, including a crucial penalty corner stop in the final quarter, to help India secure the win.&nbsp;The victory marked the end of India’s memorable World Cup campaign, with the team finishing fifth after an impressive showing on the global stage.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

India may not have celebrated loudly at the final hooter, but the team can take plenty of positives from its performance as it builds towards the Asian Games.

The Indian women’s hockey team staged a superb second-half comeback to beat Germany 3-1 and finish fifth at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Stadium on Thursday (Aug 27). The result gave India their best finish in the tournament since they secured fourth place in the inaugural 1974 edition. India came into the 5th/6th place playoff after losing just one match in the competition, however, Germany controlled much of the first half and put India’s attack under pressure. Both teams failed to score in the opening two quarters. Germany created more chances and won several penalty corners, but goalkeeper Bichu Devi and India’s defence kept them at bay. India returned from the break with more attacking intent and completely changed the game in the third quarter. Ishika Chaudhary opened the scoring in the 43rd minute with an excellent reverse-lift finish after making a strong run into the circle. Also Read - 'We did everything we could': Shubman Gill reacts after Sri Lanka hold India to draw in second Test

India may not have celebrated loudly at the final hooter, but the team can take plenty of positives from its performance as it builds towards the Asian Games.

A Moment to Cherish! India defeat Germany 3-1 to finish fifth at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, best in 52 years

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team strengthened their position at the top of Pool D at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium &amp; Netherlands 2026 with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on Tuesday. The emphatic win keeps India unbeaten in the tournament, having earlier drawn 2-2 against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China, taking their tally to four points from two matches, with India currently leading the pool on goal difference.&nbsp;India, who had played out a 2-2 draw against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China in their opening match, came into the contest determined to secure all three points. They made their attacking intent clear from the opening minutes, combining quick passing with incisive runs into the circle.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-hockey-world-cup-qualification-how-can-harmanpreet-and-co-still-advance-after-2-4-defeat-to-england-1786984919320">India Hockey World Cup qualification: How can Harmanpreet and Co. still advance after 2-4 defeat to England?</a>&nbsp;South Africa created the first major opening of the match when Kayla de Waal found herself through on goal in the fourth minute, but Bichu Devi Kharibam stood tall to make an important save and keep India level. India responded immediately, with Salima Tete driving forward on the right before finding Sunelita Toppo, whose effort was saved by South African goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder.&nbsp;India continued to build pressure and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute after Baljeet Kaur's work down the left flank resulted in a foot inside the circle. Deepika stepped up to take the set piece, but van Tonder produced a full-length save to deny the Indian drag-flick.&nbsp;The sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 11th minute. India worked the ball patiently around the South African circle before an attempt from Sakshi Rana found its way towards the far post, where Sunelita Toppo was alert to finish and give India the lead.&nbsp;India were briefly reduced to 10 players after Ishika Chaudhary received a green card in the 15th minute, but India maintained their composure and continued to dictate the tempo. At the start of the second quarter, Savita took over in goal for India, and the team continued to push forward.&nbsp;India doubled their advantage in the 17th minute through a well-executed penalty corner routine. Navneet Kaur changed the angle before unleashing a low, powerful slap hit that found the backboard to make it 2-0.&nbsp;The Indian attack continued to threaten in waves, with Navneet, Neha and Deepika combining effectively around the circle. India earned another penalty corner in the 24th minute after Navneet found space inside the circle, and the resulting move led to another set piece.&nbsp;India extended their lead in the 25th minute. Deepika's drag-flick took a deflection off the first rusher and fell kindly for Sushila Chanu, who managed to get the decisive touch and put India 3-0 ahead.&nbsp;South Africa continued to search for a way back into the contest, but India went into the half-time interval with a commanding three-goal advantage after controlling large portions of the opening 30 minutes.&nbsp;India resumed the second half with the same attacking intent. They moved the ball quickly through the midfield and repeatedly found openings in the South African defence. Salima and the Indian forwards continued to stretch the opposition defence, while the backline remained alert to South Africa's attempts to counter.&nbsp;In the 38th minute, India added a fourth goal through a superb attacking move. Navneet exchanged passes with Baljeet on the left before the ball was cut back to Deepika. She controlled the ball on her backhand and unleashed a powerful tomahawk into the bottom far corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.&nbsp;The third quarter turned into a dominant period for India as they continued to attack with pace and purpose. Two goals in the space of two minutes further strengthened India's grip on the match.&nbsp;In the 44th minute, Lalremsiami received an aerial ball from Neha inside the circle, cut onto her reverse and fired towards the far post. The effort found its way past the goalkeeper to make it 5-0.&nbsp;India then struck again in the 45th minute. Salima carried the ball forward on the right before finding Ishika, whose effort struck the post. Sakshi Rana reacted quickest to the rebound and sent a powerful reverse hit into the top corner to complete India's sixth goal of the evening.&nbsp;India entered the final quarter with a 6-0 advantage and six different players on the scoresheet, underlining the depth and variety of their attacking threat.&nbsp;South Africa continued to fight until the end and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Kayla de Waal converted a penalty corner. A drag-flick from Pearce took a deflection off the first Indian rusher before de Waal reacted quickest at the far post to reduce the deficit to 1-6.&nbsp;India, however, remained composed in the closing stages and saw out the remainder of the contest to secure a comprehensive 6-1 victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;The result gives India a valuable three points in Pool D and a significant boost in their bid to progress to the next stage of the World Cup. India will conclude their Pool D campaign against England on 20 August, with the team now looking to carry the momentum from this commanding performance into their final pool match.

India thrashed South Africa 6-1 at the 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup to move to the top of Pool D, powered by six different goal scorers in Amstelveen.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team strengthened their position at the top of Pool D at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on Tuesday. The emphatic win keeps India unbeaten in the tournament, having earlier drawn 2-2 against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China, taking their tally to four points from two matches, with India currently leading the pool on goal difference. India, who had played out a 2-2 draw against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China in their opening match, came into the contest determined to secure all three points. They made their attacking intent clear from the opening minutes, combining quick passing with incisive runs into the circle. Also read| India Hockey World Cup qualification: How can Harmanpreet and Co. still advance after 2-4 defeat to England? South Africa created the first major opening of the match when Kayla de Waal found herself through on goal in the fourth minute, but Bichu Devi Kharibam stood tall to make an important save and keep India level. India responded immediately, with Salima Tete driving forward on the right before finding Sunelita Toppo, whose effort was saved by South African goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder. India continued to build pressure and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute after Baljeet Kaur's work down the left flank resulted in a foot inside the circle. Deepika stepped up to take the set piece, but van Tonder produced a full-length save to deny the Indian drag-flick. The sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 11th minute. India worked the ball patiently around the South African circle before an attempt from Sakshi Rana found its way towards the far post, where Sunelita Toppo was alert to finish and give India the lead. India were briefly reduced to 10 players after Ishika Chaudhary received a green card in the 15th minute, but India maintained their composure and continued to dictate the tempo. At the start of the second quarter, Savita took over in goal for India, and the team continued to push forward. India doubled their advantage in the 17th minute through a well-executed penalty corner routine. Navneet Kaur changed the angle before unleashing a low, powerful slap hit that found the backboard to make it 2-0. The Indian attack continued to threaten in waves, with Navneet, Neha and Deepika combining effectively around the circle. India earned another penalty corner in the 24th minute after Navneet found space inside the circle, and the resulting move led to another set piece. India extended their lead in the 25th minute. Deepika's drag-flick took a deflection off the first rusher and fell kindly for Sushila Chanu, who managed to get the decisive touch and put India 3-0 ahead. South Africa continued to search for a way back into the contest, but India went into the half-time interval with a commanding three-goal advantage after controlling large portions of the opening 30 minutes. India resumed the second half with the same attacking intent. They moved the ball quickly through the midfield and repeatedly found openings in the South African defence. Salima and the Indian forwards continued to stretch the opposition defence, while the backline remained alert to South Africa's attempts to counter. In the 38th minute, India added a fourth goal through a superb attacking move. Navneet exchanged passes with Baljeet on the left before the ball was cut back to Deepika. She controlled the ball on her backhand and unleashed a powerful tomahawk into the bottom far corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The third quarter turned into a dominant period for India as they continued to attack with pace and purpose. Two goals in the space of two minutes further strengthened India's grip on the match. In the 44th minute, Lalremsiami received an aerial ball from Neha inside the circle, cut onto her reverse and fired towards the far post. The effort found its way past the goalkeeper to make it 5-0. India then struck again in the 45th minute. Salima carried the ball forward on the right before finding Ishika, whose effort struck the post. Sakshi Rana reacted quickest to the rebound and sent a powerful reverse hit into the top corner to complete India's sixth goal of the evening. India entered the final quarter with a 6-0 advantage and six different players on the scoresheet, underlining the depth and variety of their attacking threat. South Africa continued to fight until the end and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Kayla de Waal converted a penalty corner. A drag-flick from Pearce took a deflection off the first Indian rusher before de Waal reacted quickest at the far post to reduce the deficit to 1-6. India, however, remained composed in the closing stages and saw out the remainder of the contest to secure a comprehensive 6-1 victory. The result gives India a valuable three points in Pool D and a significant boost in their bid to progress to the next stage of the World Cup. India will conclude their Pool D campaign against England on 20 August, with the team now looking to carry the momentum from this commanding performance into their final pool match.

India thrashed South Africa 6-1 at the 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup to move to the top of Pool D, powered by six different goal scorers in Amstelveen.

India thrash South Africa 6-1 to secure first win at Women's Hockey World Cup