Amstelveen, August 16: In their opening match of the 2026 Hockey World Cup, the Indian women’s team played to a 2-2 draw against China on Sunday. Navneet and Deepika scored for India, while Zhang Ying and Ma Ning netted goals for China. The match, held at the Wagner Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, saw both teams earn one point from the draw.
India started strong, with Lalremsiami earning a penalty corner in the 5th minute. Navneet took the shot but missed. However, in the 8th minute, she found the net after a pass from Neha, giving India the lead. China, the silver medalist at the Paris Olympics, equalized when Shilpi Dabas of India was penalized for a foul inside the circle, allowing Zhang Ying to convert the penalty stroke.
Deepika converted a penalty corner in the 25th minute, restoring India’s lead. The Indian team, led by captain Salima Tete, received another penalty corner in the 21st minute but failed to score. Four minutes later, Deepika quickly advanced from the right to earn another penalty corner, which she successfully converted.
The goal was reviewed by the video umpire after a Chinese defender was injured by Deepika’s drag-flick, but it was ultimately validated. India led 2-1 at halftime, but China mounted an aggressive comeback, testing India’s defense in the third quarter. In the 39th minute, Ma Ning scored from a penalty corner, leveling the match at 2-2.
The fourth quarter saw both teams fighting for victory, but no goals were scored. In the 51st minute, Navneet delivered a powerful pass in front of the Chinese goal, but Lalremsiami couldn’t reach the ball, missing a scoring opportunity. A Chinese player, Ju Meirong, received a green card in the 53rd minute, leaving her team with ten players for two minutes, but India couldn’t capitalize. China was awarded another penalty corner in the 57th minute. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but they earned another chance. Fan Yunxia took a shot, but it went wide, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
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