Archive · 16 Aug 2026
India Women Hold China 2-2 in Hockey World Cup Opener
The Indian women's hockey team played an exciting game against China.
This game was part of a big tournament called the Hockey World Cup, held in the Netherlands.
China is a very strong team and won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
India started the game with lots of energy and scored the first goal.
Navneet Kaur scored for India, and Deepika scored again to make it 2-1.
But China did not give up and scored two goals of their own.
When the game ended, the score was 2-2, which means nobody won.
In hockey, a draw gives each team one point.
India's coach was not happy because he thought his team should have been given a penalty corner at the end.
Next, India will play South Africa on August 18.
India drew 2-2 with Paris Olympics silver medallists China in their Pool D opener at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Navneet Kaur scored an 8th-minute field goal and Deepika Soreng converted a penalty corner to give India a 2-1 halftime lead.
Zhang Ying equalised from a penalty stroke in the 14th minute and Ma Ning converted a penalty corner in the 39th minute for China.
India coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed displeasure that India were not awarded a penalty corner in the final quarter, saying "I don't know why that PC was not given."
India next play South Africa on August 18; earlier on Sunday, England defeated South Africa 4-0.
- Who
- The Indian women's hockey team, coached by Sjoerd Marijne, and the Chinese women's hockey team, coached by Alyson Annan.
- What
- Drew 2-2 in their opening Pool D match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.
- When
- Sunday, August 16, 2026.
- Where
- Amstelveen (described as Amsterdam), Netherlands.
- Why
- Both teams were opening their World Cup campaigns; India, who had lost their last four meetings with China, wanted a strong start after winning the FIH Nations Cup in June.
India's perspective
Officials' / China's perspective
Late penalty corner denial
India's perspective
Coach Sjoerd Marijne was displeased after Navneet Kaur's final penetration was thwarted, saying "I don't know why that PC was not given."
Officials' / China's perspective
The umpires did not award the penalty corner, and no explanation is reported; China successfully blocked the final attempt.
Penalty stroke against Shilpi Dabas
India's perspective
India took a referral challenging the award, believing the obstruction call against Shilpi Dabas was wrong.
Officials' / China's perspective
The referee and TV umpire upheld the penalty stroke, ruling that Shilpi Dabas had obstructed Zhang Ying inside the 'D'.
- Result
- 2-2 draw
- Competition
- FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, Pool D opener
- Venue
- Amstelveen, Netherlands
- India scorers
- Navneet Kaur (8th min); Deepika Soreng (penalty corner, second quarter)
- China scorers
- Zhang Ying (14th min, penalty stroke); Ma Ning (39th min, penalty corner)
- Next match
- India vs South Africa, August 18
- India coach
- Sjoerd Marijne (third stint with the team)
- Milestone
- Savita Punia's 314th international match; most experienced player at the tournament
