In their two Pool-E matches, India lost to Netherlands 0-2 and drew with Australia 0-0. India qualified for the second round by finishing second in Pool-D league with five points from three matches. They drew with 2024 Olympic silver medallists China 2-2, beat South Africa 6-1 and drew with England 0-0.

Salima Tete led a 20-member Indian women squad with Sjoerd Marijne as the chief coach. The squad featured only one player from Odisha. She was midfielder Sunelita Toppo, who has 58 senior international caps to her name so far.

INDIAN WOMEN SQUAD FOR FIH WORLD CUP 2026:

Goalkeepers: Savita Punia, Bichu Devi Kharibam. Defenders: Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti Rumavat, Shilpi Dabas. Midfielders: Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (C), Neha Goyal, Deepika Soreng. Forwards: Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika Sehrawat, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung.

INDIA RESULTS:

16 August 2026 (Pool-D League): India (Navneet Kaur 8-FG, Deepika Sehrawat 25-PC) drew with China (Zhang Ying 15-PC, Ma Ning 39-PC) 2-2.

18 August 2026 (Pool-D League): India (Sunelita Toppo 11-FG, Navneet Kaur 17-PC, Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu 25-PC, 55-PC, Deepika 38-FG, Lalremsiami 44-FG, Sakshi Rana 39-FG) beat South Africa (Kayla de Waal 55-PC) 6-1.

20 August 2026 (Pool-D League): India drew with England 0-0.

21 August 2026 (Pool-E League): India lost to Netherlands (Yibbi Jansen 2-PC, Frederique Matla 38-PC) 0-2.

23 August 2026 (Pool-E League): India drew with Australia 0-0.

27 August 2026 (Fifth-place match): India (Ishika 43-FG, Navneet Kaur 44-PC, 47-FG) beat Germany (Lynn Krings 59-FG) 3-1.
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TOP: File picture of Odisha and India midfielder Sunelita Toppo.

RIGHT: Players of the Indian team pose after their selection for the Womens FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.