Hockey India announced a 20-member Indian women’s squad on Friday for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. Salima Tete will captain the side, which chief coach Sjoerd Marijne called a well-balanced group.
The tournament, jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium, runs from 15 to 30 August 2026. The squad is training at the national camp in Bengaluru and includes experienced players alongside younger talents who performed well at recent events, notably winning the FIH Nations Cup in New Zealand last month without defeat.
Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam are the goalkeepers. Defenders are Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti and Shilpi Dabas. Midfielders include Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Neha and Deepika Soreng, with Salima Tete as captain. Forwards are Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur and Beauty Dungdung.
Coach Marijne said the group is prepared for the challenges ahead and has trained hard for the event. India is drawn in Pool D with China, England and South Africa. All pool matches will be played at Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, starting with China on 16 August, followed by South Africa on 18 August and England on 20 August.
