Indian Women's Hockey Team Aims for Gold at Asian Games 2026

Indian Women's Hockey Team Sets Sights on Asian Games Gold

Bengaluru, Sep 8: After achieving a remarkable fifth-place finish at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team has departed for Japan to compete in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Their goal is to secure the gold medal and a direct qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Under the leadership of captain Salima Tete and the guidance of coach Sjoerd Marijne, the team left Bengaluru on Tuesday.

According to the FIH’s qualification criteria for LA 2028, the highest-ranked eligible team in the women’s hockey event at the 2026 Asian Games will earn a spot for the Olympics, provided they haven't qualified through other means.

Thus, India's objective is clear: clinch the Asian Games gold and secure direct entry into the 2028 Olympics.

The Asian Games represent the next step in a significant turnaround for the Indian women's team under Marijne, who rejoined the program earlier this year and was officially appointed as head coach in January 2026.

His primary focus has been on enhancing fitness levels, fostering team cohesion, and establishing a strong collective identity as India embarks on the Olympic journey. The results since his return have demonstrated this progress.

India kicked off their 2026 campaign by winning a silver medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, remaining unbeaten until the final and securing World Cup qualification with a 1-0 semi-final win over Italy.

The team then showcased a dominant performance at the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland, going unbeaten throughout the tournament. India triumphed over the USA, Japan, and Uruguay in the pool stage, defeated Chile 6-0 in the semi-finals, and clinched the title with a 2-0 victory against hosts New Zealand. This success also earned India a spot in the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League for the upcoming season.

This momentum continued into the World Cup, where India delivered one of its best performances in decades, finishing fifth—their highest World Cup result since the inaugural tournament in 1974. The team suffered only one defeat, drew with higher-ranked teams like China, England, and Australia, and concluded their campaign with a 3-1 win over World No. 5 Germany.

With this confidence, the Indian team is now focused on the Asian Games, where the stakes are even higher.

India has been placed in Pool B alongside Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan. Their campaign will kick off against Uzbekistan on September 20, followed by matches against Indonesia on September 21, Thailand on September 23, Japan on September 25, and Singapore on September 27.

The knockout rounds will commence on September 30, with the semi-finals scheduled for the same day, leading up to the gold medal match on October 2.

Captain Salima, who has led the team to the Nations Cup title and a historic fifth-place finish at the World Cup this year, expressed the team's determination to build on their recent successes.

“We are entering the Asian Games with a lot of confidence, but we understand that each tournament presents new challenges. The Nations Cup and World Cup have instilled belief in our capabilities, and now we aim to take that one step further. Our goal is clear — we want to compete for the gold medal and secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. We recognize that achieving this requires consistency, discipline, and giving our best in every match, and as a team, we are prepared for that challenge,” Tete stated.

The 20-member squad for the Asian Games features a blend of seasoned players like Savita, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Nikki Pradhan, Lalremsiami, and Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, along with a promising group of younger athletes who have made significant contributions in recent international competitions.

The squad includes two goalkeepers (Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam), five defenders (Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas), six midfielders (Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (C), Neha, Deepika Soreng), and seven forwards (Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung).