India Hold Olympic Silver Medallists China in World Cup Opener at 2-2
What Happened
India began their FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against China in Amstelveen, Netherlands. India twice took the lead through Navneet Kaur (8') and Deepika (25'), but China responded both times through Zhang Ying (penalty stroke, 15') and Ma Ning (penalty corner, 39').
Key Takeaways
Holding world No. 2 and Olympic silver medallists China to a draw is a strong start for the Indian women. The result gives India a valuable point in Pool D and boosts confidence ahead of the crucial match against South Africa.