India women’s hockey team defeated Germany 3-1 in 5th Place Classification match at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on Friday.
Updated: August 28, 2026, 11:33 AM IST
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India women hockey team celebrates scoring in Hockey World Cup 2026 match vs Germany on Thursday(Source: X)
The Indian women’s hockey team pulled off a dominant 3-1 win over higher-ranked Germany in a classification match to finish a creditable fifth in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, their best show in 52 years, in Amstelveen on ThursdayNavneet Kaur (44th and 47th) scored a brace to play a major role in the win as India ended their campaign on a highIshika (43rd minute) was the other goal getter for IndiaLynn Krings pulled one back for Germany in the 59th minute.
This was the Indian women team’s best performance since finishing fourth in the inaugural World Cup in 1974 under Ajinder Kaur’s leadershipThe current Indian team has 11 World Cup debutants, and the fifth place finish makes it more noteworthy.
Ninth-ranked India suffered just one defeat in the whole tournament – at the hands of Olympic champions and hosts the Netherlands (0-2).
What a moment!
The smiles, the celebrations, the pride — this team gave it everything! ❤️
India finish 5th at the Women’s Hockey World Cup, their best-ever finish since 1974.
Proud of you, girls! pic.twitter.com/MnhuJMPwEE
— Sports Apna (@sportsapna1) August 27, 2026
This performance will undoubtedly boost the Indian team’s confidence ahead of next month’s Asian Games 2026The Indian team, which held Olympic silver medalist China to a 2-2 draw in the opening match, defeated South Africa 6-1 but then drew with England.
Having eliminated from the semi-final race after a goal-less draw against Australia in the final match of the second round, India pulled out all the stops against Germany, scoring three goals in the final 17 minutesCoach Sjoerd Marijne, who had guided India to a historic fourth place finish in Tokyo Olympics, jumped with joy after the final hooter.
This same German team had defeated India in two practice matches before the tournamentHowever in the fifth-place classification match on Thursday, both teams tested each other for the first 43 minutes but failed to score.
In the final 17 minutes, India displayed superb passing, excellent finishing, and strong defence, denying Germany any chance to recoverGermany earned six penalty corners, but the Indian goalkeeper and defence remained rock-solid.
India made their first attempt in the fifth minute when Navneet took the ball from the left flank and passed it to Salima on the right, but the German goalkeeper stepped forward and blocked itSalima 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 failed to take a shotJust before the end of the first quarter, Shilpi Dabas passed the ball to Neha in midfield, but she lost possesion.
Germany earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 15th minute when Ishika obstructed Emma inside the circleIndia took a referral, but the video umpire upheld the on-field umpire’s decisionIndia lost the referral.
Indian goalkeeper Bichoo Devi brilliantly saved Lilly Stoffelsma’s drag-flick, but Germany received their second consecutive penalty corner due to the rusher’s early run but failed to convert from the variationNeither team scored in the first 15 minutes.
India made their first attempt in the fourth minute of the second quarter when Deepika passed the ball from the middle of the field to Navneet, who passed it to Lalremsiami in the circleLalremsiami’s shot went wide of the goalpost.
Germany earned their third penalty corner in the same minute, but the push was weakIndia had another golden opportunity in the 22nd minute, but despite two attempts, they failed to convert itFirst, Navneet took a direct shot from the left flank, which German goalkeeper Finja Starck blocked with her left foot, but the ball was still inside the DIt 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 breakEven after the break, both teams showed no signs of momentum, and the match progressed at a very slow pace.
Ishika advanced alone from the right flank in the 35th minute with the ball, but lost control near the circleThree minutes later, Jyoti had to leave the field with the help of a physiotherapist as she twisted her kneeIndia’s consistent efforts paid off in the 43rd minute when Ishika, receiving the ball from Neha, entered the circle and, with a reverse hit, put the ball over the German goalkeeper.
India earned the first penalty corner of the match the very next minute when Navneet was obstructed in the circleNavneet’s slap shot hit the ball before it could be stopped, hitting the defender’s leg, giving India another penalty corner.
– With PTI inputs
