India hold Olympic medallists China to 2-2 draw at Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen; India earn point in Pool D opener

Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026: India hold Olympic medallists China to 2-2 draw in opener

Navneet Kaur and Deepika scored for India as China fought back twice to earn a point in the opening Pool D match. India will face South Africa next on Tuesday.

India began their Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the People’s Republic of China at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on Sunday.

Navneet Kaur (8’) and Deepika (25’) scored for the world No. 9 Indian women’s hockey team , while fourth-ranked and Paris 2024 silver medallists China responded through Ying Zhang (15’) and Ma Ning (39’) to twice level the contest.

India started brightly, taking the initiative with aggressive attacking play and early possession. Lalremsiami was influential in the opening exchanges and won India’s first penalty corner after drawing a foul inside the circle.

Navneet stepped up to take the set piece, but her powerful attempt was dealt with by the Chinese defence.

India continued to apply pressure and took the lead in the eighth minute. Neha sent the ball into the circle from outside the circle, with Navneet getting the final touch to put India 1-0 ahead.

China gradually grew into the contest and began creating chances of their own. A dangerous ball from Li Hong took a deflection off an Indian hockey stick before China were awarded a penalty stroke in the 14th minute following a foul inside the circle.

Ying Zhang made no mistake from the spot, wrong-footing goalkeeper Savita Punia to restore parity.

India responded well and started the second quarter on the front foot. Deepika produced a superb individual run in the 24th minute, dribbling into the circle and reaching the baseline before drawing a foul to win another penalty corner.

She then took the resulting set piece herself, sending a powerful drag-flick into the net in the 25th minute to restore India’s lead.

China increased the pressure after the half-time interval, with Savita Punia called into action to make an important save after a deflection created danger in front of the Indian goal.

The pressure finally paid off in the 39th minute when China won a penalty corner. Ma Ning unleashed a superb drag-flick that beat the Indian defence to make it 2-2.

China continued to dominate possession and territory for the remainder of the third quarter and soon earned another penalty corner. Savita once again stood tall, making a sharp low save to deny the Chinese.

India were forced to defend deep as China maintained their high press. However, the Indian defence held firm to take the teams into the final quarter level.

China continued to push for the winning goal in the fourth quarter, while India looked to regain control and create openings of their own.

The Chinese side threatened again from a penalty corner in the 57th minute. The initial drag-flick took a deflection and bounced around inside the circle before China won another penalty corner, but India defended the situation successfully.

Neither side could find a decisive goal in the closing minutes as the two teams settled for a 2-2 draw in their opening match of the FIH Hockey World Cup .

India will next face South Africa in their second Pool D match on Tuesday.

Following the opening round of matches, England lead Pool D after their 4-0 win over South Africa, while South Africa sit fourth.

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