The Indian women’s hockey team will aim to sign off their FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 campaign on a high when they take on Germany in the fifth-sixth place classification match on Thursday.
A victory would give India their best-ever finish at a World Cup since their historic fourth-place showing at the inaugural edition in 1974, marking another significant milestone for Indian women’s hockey.
India have produced an impressive and resilient campaign, losing just once in five matches. They held higher-ranked teams, including Paris Olympics silver medallists China, England and Australia, to draws and registered their biggest-ever World Cup victory with a commanding 6-1 win over South Africa.
Their only defeat came against defending champions the Netherlands, who were pushed before securing a 2-0 victory.
India finished third in the second stage, narrowly missing out on a semi-final berth after a series of closely fought draws.
Germany have also enjoyed a competitive tournament. They defeated Scotland and the USA in the opening pool stage before beating Spain in the second stage. However, a defeat against hosts Belgium left them third in their pool and sent them into the fifth-sixth place classification match.
India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne acknowledged the progress made by his team but said there was still room for improvement.
“We defeated South Africa with big numbers, did really well against the Netherlands. The girls also realise that they have taken good steps. But they are naturally disappointed, and I think that’s a good thing. That means they feel we can do more,” Marijne said.
India’s biggest challenge against Germany will be converting their opportunities into goals. The team has created chances against some of the tournament’s strongest sides but has struggled to find the finishing touch.
The forwards will therefore play a crucial role, with Deepika and Navneet Kaur likely to be key threats, particularly from penalty corners and set-piece situations.
At the other end, India have been well served by their defensive unit. Goalkeepers Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam have produced strong performances throughout the campaign, while captain Salima Tete has impressed with her rushing blocks during penalty-corner defence.
Marijne believes India can build on their performances and finish the tournament on an even stronger note.
“The girls have already made history by securing the best ranking in a World Cup (since 1974), but we want more. It’s going to be a good match against Germany to show that we can do better than we did against Australia. We are looking forward to it,” he said.
A win over Germany would cap a memorable World Cup campaign and provide Indian women’s hockey with a new benchmark to build on as the team continues its rise on the international stage.
(Inputs from Hockey India)
