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Indian women’s hockey team bagged fifth place at the FIH World Cup, defeating Germany 3-1. Navneet Kaur scored twice, marking India’s best finish in 52 years.
Indian women’s hockey team finished fifth at the World Cup (Picture credit: X @TheHockeyIndia)
The Indian women’s hockey team produced a dominant 3-1 victory over higher-ranked Germany in the classification game to bag a creditable fifth-place finish at the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen on Thursday, their best result at the tournament in 52 years.
Navneet Kaur struck twice in quick succession in the 44th and 47th minutes to spearhead India’s win against Germany and cap their campaign on a high. Ishika (43rd) scored India’s other goal.
Lynn Krings pulled one back for Germany in the 59th minute.
This was the Indian women’s team’s best performance since finishing fourth in the inaugural FIH Women’s World Cup in 1974 under Ajinder Kaur’s captaincy.
The current Indian team has 11 FIH Women’s World Cup debutants and the fifth-place finish makes it more noteworthy.
Ninth-ranked India suffered just one loss in the whole tournament, at the hands of Olympic champions and hosts the Netherlands (0-2).
The result will provide a significant confidence boost to the Indian team ahead of next month’s Asian Games. India started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China, followed it up with a 6-1 victory over South Africa and then played out a draw against England.
After being knocked out of the semifinal race after a goalless draw against Australia in their final second-round match, India stepped up against Germany, scoring three goals in the last 17 minutes to seal a memorable win.
Coach Sjoerd Marijne, who had guided India to a historic fourth-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics, jumped with joy after the final hooter.
The same German team had defeated India in two practice games before the tournament, but Thursday’s fifth-place classification clash was a closely fought affair. Both teams tested each other for the opening 43 minutes but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
In the final 17 minutes, India displayed superb passing, excellent finishing and strong defence, denying Germany any opportunity to recover.
Germany earned six penalty corners, but the Indian goalkeeper and defence remained rock-solid.
India created their first opportunity in the fifth minute when Navneet carried the ball down the left flank before finding Salima on the right, but the German goalkeeper came off her line to make the block.
Salima called for a penalty corner, but the umpire ignored it.
In the ninth minute, Germany’s Emma Davidsmeyer advanced alone from the right flank with the ball but lost control in front of the goal and couldn’t take a shot.
Just before the end of the first quarter, Shilpi Dabas passed the ball to Neha in midfield, but she lost possession.
Germany earned their first penalty corner in the 15th minute after Ishika was adjudged to have obstructed Emma inside the circle. India opted for a referral, but the video umpire upheld the on-field decision.
India lost the referral.
Indian goalkeeper Bichoo Devi kept out Lilly Stoffelsma’s drag-flick, but Germany earned a second consecutive penalty corner after the rusher was adjudged to have made an early run.
The hosts couldn’t capitalise on the variation.
Neither team scored in the first 15 minutes.
India created their first chance of the second quarter in the fourth minute when Deepika played the ball from the middle of the field to Navneet, who then found Lalremsiami inside the circle.
Lalremsiami’s shot went wide of the goalpost.
Germany earned their third penalty corner in the same minute, but the push was weak.
India had another golden chance in the 22nd minute but couldn’t convert despite two attempts. Navneet first unleashed a direct shot from the left flank, only for German goalkeeper Finja Starck to block it with her left foot, though the ball remained inside the D.
It went to Salima on the right side of the goal, but her attempt was also thwarted by the German defence.
Neither team was able to score until the break. Even after the break, both teams showed no signs of momentum and the game progressed at a very slow pace.
Ishika made a solo run down the right flank in the 35th minute but lost control of the ball near the circle. Three minutes later, Jyoti was forced off with the help of a physiotherapist after twisting her knee.
India’s sustained pressure paid off in the 43rd minute when Ishika received the ball from Neha, entered the circle and produced a reverse hit that sailed over the German goalkeeper.
India earned their first penalty corner of the match the very next minute after Navneet was obstructed inside the circle. Her initial slap shot struck the ball before it could be stopped and hit a defender’s leg, earning India another penalty corner.
Navneet applied the same ‘touch-and-slap’ technique, scoring India’s second goal.
Navneet’s brilliant dribbling helped India score their third goal as she held on to possession despite being surrounded by German defenders, rounded the goalkeeper and finished with a direct hit.
After conceding three goals, Germany mounted a counterattack and earned a penalty corner in the 48th minute but couldn’t convert. They squandered another PC before pulling one back with just a minute remaining.
(With PTI Inputs)
August 27, 2026, 9:18 PM IST
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