India women’s hockey team beat Germany 3-1 in the classification match of the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026. The match was played at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
With this win, India finished fifth in the tournament. It is India’s best World Cup finish since 1974, when the team had finished fourth.
How did India win the match?
The first two quarters were close. Both India and Germany had chances, but neither team could score. The score was 0-0 at half-time. India came out with a better attack in the third quarter. Ishika Chaudhary scored the first goal for India. Soon after, Navneet Kaur found the net to give India a 2-0 lead.
The two goals came within a few minutes of each other and put Germany under pressure.
When did Navneet Kaur score again?
Navneet Kaur scored again in the fourth and final quarter. Her second goal of the match made it 3-0 and put India in a strong position. Germany did not give up. Lynn Krings scored late in the match to make the score 3-1.
However, Germany could not score another goal before the final whistle. India held on to win the match 3-1.
What is India’s best World Cup finish?
India finished fifth at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup. This is the team’s best result since 1974. India had finished fourth in the first Women’s Hockey World Cup in 1974. The fifth-place finish in 2026 is therefore another strong result for the team.
Why did India miss the semi-finals?
India, led by captain Salima Tete, could not reach the semi-finals. The team needed a good result against Australia to keep its hopes alive. The match ended 0-0, which meant India missed out on a place in the last four. However, the team finished the tournament with a win over Germany and secured fifth place.