28 Aug 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The Indian women’s hockey team scripted history at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, defeating world No. 5 Germany 3-1 in the fifth-place classification match to secure India’s best finish at the tournament in 52 years.
India Finish Fifth
The victory in Amstelveen saw India finish fifth, their best result since the inaugural Women’s Hockey World Cup in 1974, when the team finished fourth.
It is India’s second-best finish in the history of the tournament and marks a significant improvement after their ninth-place finish in 2022.
Navneet Kaur Leads the Charge
After a goalless first half, India came alive after the break.
Ishika opened the scoring in the 43rd minute before Navneet Kaur converted a penalty corner a minute later. Navneet then struck again in the 47th minute to give India a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Germany’s Lynn Krings pulled one back in the 59th minute, but India’s defence held firm to secure the historic victory.
A Strong World Cup Campaign
India’s fifth-place finish was built on a consistent campaign against several higher-ranked opponents.
The team drew against China, England and Australia, defeated South Africa 6-1 and suffered only one defeat before the classification match. Their only loss came against hosts and defending champions the Netherlands.
Missed Semi-Final Spot
India narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals after a goalless draw against Australia in their final second-round match.
Despite failing to reach the last four, the team responded strongly against Germany and ended the tournament on a high.
A New Benchmark for Indian Hockey
The result provides Indian women’s hockey with a new benchmark more than five decades after the team’s historic fourth-place finish in 1974.
The performance also reflects the progress of a squad combining experienced players with a younger generation of hockey talent.
Focus Now Shifts to Asian Games
India will now turn its attention to the Asian Games in Japan next month.
The confidence gained from a World Cup campaign featuring results against several higher-ranked teams could provide an important boost as the team targets another strong international performance.