Indian hockey eves enter Nations Cup semi finals
Indian women hockey players advanced to the knockouts of the FIH Hockey Womens Nations Cup 2026 following a gritty 2-1 triumph over Japan in Auckland on Tuesday. This second consecutive victory in Pool A cements their position at the top of the leaderboard. This performance mirrors the rising dominance of Indian women on the global turf, a journey deeply supported by Odisha's long-standing sponsorship and promotion of national hockey teams.
Goalless during the opening half, the encounter at the North Harbour National Hockey Centre saw intense action after the break. Skipper Salima Tete broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, converting a penalty corner variation setup by Nikki Pradhan and Navneet Kaur. Japan countered quickly when Hiramitsu Ai found the equalizer just two minutes later through another penalty corner.
Midfielder Jyoti celebrated her milestone 100th international cap during this high-stakes encounter, adding defensive stability. Forward Lalremsiami secured the winning goal in the 49th minute by capitalizing on a precise pass from veteran Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam.
Holding six points from successful outings against the United States and Japan, India sits comfortably at the top. Their final group encounter is scheduled against Uruguay on June 18. Japan must now battle the United States to claim the remaining knockout berth from the group.
With Inputs from Agency threads and Image Courtesy: ANI
