Auckland: The Indian women’s hockey team scripted history by defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26, securing their second Nations Cup title and earning promotion to next season’s FIH Pro League. India completed the tournament unbeaten, underlining their growing stature in international hockey.
India made a dream start to the title clash as Navneet Kaur converted a penalty corner in the fourth minute to hand the visitors an early lead. The pressure continued on the New Zealand defence, and Sunelita Toppo doubled India’s advantage in the 15th minute with a fine deflection from another penalty-corner move.
After taking a two-goal lead, India displayed remarkable discipline and defensive organisation. Goalkeeper Savita and the backline successfully resisted repeated attacks from the hosts, ensuring New Zealand failed to find a way back into the contest. India maintained control throughout the second half and comfortably saw out the match to seal a memorable victory.
The triumph marks India’s return to the prestigious FIH Pro League, a major achievement for a team that has worked hard to rebuild after a challenging period in international competition. The victory is also a significant boost ahead of the upcoming major tournaments, including the FIH Hockey World Cup later this year.
Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance in the final, while Deepika finished as the joint-highest scorer of the tournament with six goals. Hockey India announced cash rewards of ₹3 lakh for each player and ₹1.5 lakh for every member of the support staff in recognition of the team's achievement.
India’s road to the title was impressive. The team defeated the United States, Japan and Uruguay in the group stage before thrashing Chile 6-0 in the semi-final. The dominant campaign culminated in a convincing victory over New Zealand in the final, highlighting the team’s consistency and determination throughout the tournament.
The victory has been widely celebrated across the country and is being seen as a major milestone for Indian women’s hockey. With a Nations Cup trophy and a place in the Pro League secured, the team has taken another significant step forward on the international stage.
