India women’s hockey captain Salima Tete has set her sights firmly on the gold medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026, insisting that the team has the belief and ability to challenge for top honours after an impressive Nations Cup triumph.
India head into the World Cup with considerable momentum after winning the FIH Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, in June. The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament before defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final to lift the title.
Tete said the team’s confidence has grown considerably and that the players are determined to convert their recent success into a strong World Cup campaign.
“As a captain, my role is to support every player on the pitch. Whether we are losing or winning, I stand with the team. This time the FIH Hockey World Cup will be ours. We have the ability to do it,” Tete said.
The World Cup, jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, will be played from August 15 to 30. India will begin their campaign against China on August 16, before taking on South Africa on August 18 and England on August 20. Agencies