India’s women’s hockey team finished fifth at the 2026 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup, ending a strong campaign with a 3-1 win over Germany in the fifth-place match in Amstelveen, Netherlands. It is India’s best World Cup finish since 1974, when the team finished fourth in the tournament’s first edition.
India ends FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup on a high
India started the tournament with a 2-2 draw against China, followed by a 6-1 win over South Africa and a 0-0 draw against England. In the next stage, India lost 0-2 to the Netherlands and drew 0-0 with Australia. The draw against Australia ended India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
India then faced Germany in the fifth-place match on August 27, 2026.
After a goalless first half, Ishika Chaudhary put India ahead in the 43rd minute. Navneet Kaur scored twice, including a penalty corner goal, to make it 3-0. Germany scored once late in the match, but India held on to win 3-1.
FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup quick scorecard: India 3-1 Germany
- Ishika Chaudhary: 43rd minute
- Navneet Kaur: 44th minute
- Navneet Kaur: 47th minute
- Lynn Krings: 59th minute
India finished the tournament with two wins, three draws and one defeat from six matches. Their only loss came against defending champions and hosts, the Netherlands. The fifth-place finish is a big achievement for the Indian team, which was ranked ninth in the world before the tournament. The young squad will now look ahead to the Asian Games, with the Olympics also on the horizon.
What is the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup?
The FIH Hockey World Cup is the biggest international tournament in field hockey. National teams from around the world compete to become world champions. The 2026 women’s tournament was held in Belgium and the Netherlands.
FAQs
- What position did India finish in?
India finished fifth at the 2026 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup.
- Who did India beat for fifth place?
India defeated Germany 3-1 in the fifth-place classification match.
- Who scored for India?
Ishika Chaudhary scored once and Navneet Kaur scored twice.
- Is this India’s best-ever World Cup finish?
No. India’s best finish remains fourth place in 1974. However, fifth place in 2026 is the team’s best result since 1974.
- How many matches did India lose?
India lost just one of its six matches, against the Netherlands.
Did you know? India’s women’s team scored six goals against South Africa, their biggest win of the tournament.
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