An experienced Indian women’s hockey team will head to the Netherlands and Belgium for the 16th edition of the women’s FIH World Cup, starting on Friday, with renewed confidence, yet with tempered expectations.
But India’s tournament history, recent performances and a strong pool of title contenders offers little optimism as the current side aims to improve on a best-ever fourth-place finish, achieved at the inaugural edition in 1974. After an uncertain period at the start of the year, the return of a rejuvenated Sjoerd Marijne, who masterminded the team’s fourth-place finish in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has brought about improved results. Gold medal in Japan will seal a return to the Olympics, after its failure to qualify in 2024. 4) — the 2022 Asian Games champion and 2024 Olympics runner-up — drawn in the same first round group alongside England (7) and South Africa (18).
A World Cup participation usually ushers in a sense of hope and anticipation for a nation’s contingent. World Cup qualification was secured on home soil before producing a perfect run to clinch the FIH Nations Cup title to earn promotion back to the Pro League for next season. For Marijne, however, the World Cup offers a platform to fine-tune the team’s plans and conditioning for a more significant goal on the horizon: the Asian Games, which begins three weeks after the tournament. Ranked ninth in the world, India is presented with an ideal tune-up, with China (world no. India will come to bank heavily on its experienced core. Goalkeeper Savita Punia, defenders Nikki Pradhan and Sushila Chanu, midfielders Salima Tete and Neha Goyal, and forward Navneet Kaur bring plenty of tournament know-how and ability on the big stage.
China beat India, under former head coach Harendra Singh, twice at the Asia Cup last year and will want to underline its own credentials for a world title by making an emphatic start in their opening encounter.