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The Indian women’s hockey team drew 2-2 with Scotland in their second match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers but maintained their lead atop Group B.
India retain top spot in pool b after 2-2 draw against Scotland in FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
The Indian women’s hockey team fought to a 2-2 draw against Scotland in its second match, maintaining their lead in Pool B of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Monday.
Both India and Scotland now have four points each in the group, but India holds the top spot due to a superior goal difference.
India’s goals came from Navneet Kaur (18th minute) and Sunelita Toppo (29th minute), while Heather McEwan (6th minute) and Fiona Burnet (33rd minute) scored for Scotland.
How India And Scotland Drew?
Scotland began the game with patient passing, while India, starting in a 3-4-3 formation, initially looked solid but lost their defensive shape, conceding a penalty corner in the sixth minute. McEwan seized the opportunity, putting Scotland ahead 1-0.
India responded with persistent forward runs. Lalremsiami earned their first penalty corner, but Udita’s drag-flick went wide. India continued to pressure, winning a second penalty corner in the 14th minute, but a trapping error led to a Scottish counter-attack, which was cleared by Sushila.
In the second quarter, India quickly earned their third penalty corner in the 17th minute. Despite another trapping error, Navneet recovered and scored to level the match at 1-1. Scotland attempted to regain the lead, winning a penalty corner in the 22nd minute, but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi made a superb save to deny Amy Costello.
Scotland intensified their attack, making multiple circle entries. However, India took the lead in the 29th minute. After a goalmouth scramble and a rebound off the woodwork from a penalty corner, Sunelita Toppo tapped the ball in, giving India a 2-1 lead at half time.
The third quarter saw a fierce battle for possession. In the 33rd minute, Scotland executed a perfect passing move set up by McEwan, allowing Fiona Burnet to equalise. Scotland then controlled possession for the next seven minutes, limiting India’s attacking options.
After withstanding the pressure, Lalremsiami and Rutuja combined to win a penalty corner for India, sparking a series of three consecutive penalty corners and a goalmouth tussle, but India couldn’t capitalise.
Early in the fourth quarter, India earned another penalty corner, but Buchanan kept them at bay. India intensified their attacks and narrowly missed another opportunity two minutes later. The next five minutes featured end-to-end action, with India’s attacking runs looking particularly sharp. With five minutes remaining, Baljeet made a penetrating run, but there was no one in the circle to finish.
Two minutes later, India won their ninth penalty corner of the match. Although a rebound fell kindly, Buchanan made another crucial save.
India had earlier defeated Uruguay 4-0 in their opener on Sunday. They will next face Wales on Wednesday.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 09, 2026, 10:38 PM IST
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