Amstelveen , A confident India face a stern opening test in the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup here on Sunday as Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne’s side takes on the Olympic silver medallists China, with a little room for error in a demanding Pool D contest.
India’s best World Cup finish came at the inaugural edition in 1974, when the team led by Ajinder Kaur finished fourth. Having featured in only eight of the previous 15 editions, India will be looking to improve on their ninth-place finish from 2022. It will also be a first appearance in the World Cup for as many as 11 members of the squad, but they have had plenty of big-match experience. Goalkeeper Savita, with 313 international appearances, is the most experienced player in the tournament. China defeated India 4-1 in the 2025 Asia Cup in Hangzhou and went on to win the continental title.
India won the FIH Nations Cup in New Zealand to return to the Pro League, in which drag-flicker Deepika rediscovered her scoring touch after recovering from injury, finishing the tournament with six goals. Ranked ninth in the world, India will take on the second-ranked China, the Paris Olympic silver medallists, in a match that could set the tone for their campaign. Playing in her third World Cup, she has already participated in two Olympics and three Asian Games. Navneet has emerged as another key attacking weapon. She scored six goals during India’s Asia Cup campaign and four at the World Cup qualifiers, where she was named the Player of the Tournament. India, however, will be wary of China’s recent dominance. The Chinese side also claimed silver at the Paris Olympics and finished fourth in the last two Pro League seasons.
