Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 8 (ANI): Fresh from a historic fifth-place end on the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands 2026, the Indian ladies’s hockey staff has launched into its journey to Japan for the twentieth Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with the staff setting its sights firmly on the gold medal and a direct berth on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Led by captain Salima Tete and coached by Sjoerd Marijne, the Indian staff departed Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The Asian Games would be the newest chapter in what has been a powerful turnaround for the Indian ladies beneath Marijne, who returned to the Indian ladies’s programme earlier this 12 months and was formally appointed Chief Coach in January 2026. His fast emphasis was on bettering health, strengthening staff chemistry and creating a powerful collective id as India entered the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, as per a press launch from Hockey India.Â
The outcomes since his return have mirrored that progress.
India started their 2026 marketing campaign by securing a silver medal on the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, remaining unbeaten till the ultimate and sealing their World Cup qualification with a 1-0 semi-final victory over Italy.
The staff then produced a dominant marketing campaign on the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland, remaining unbeaten all through the match. India defeated the USA, Japan and Uruguay within the pool stage, beat Chile 6-0 within the semi-final after which defeated hosts New Zealand 2-0 within the closing to raise the title. The triumph additionally earned India promotion to the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League for the next season.
That momentum carried into the World Cup, the place India produced certainly one of its best performances in a long time. The staff completed fifth, its greatest World Cup outcome for the reason that inaugural version in 1974, after a marketing campaign wherein it suffered only one defeat, held higher-ranked China, England and Australia to attracts, defeated South Africa 6-1 and signed off with a 3-1 victory over World No. 5 Germany.
With that confidence behind them, the Indian staff now turns its consideration to the Asian Games, the place the stakes are even greater.
Under the FIH’s LA 2028 qualification system, the highest-placed eligible staff within the ladies’s hockey competitors on the 2026 Asian Games will earn an Olympic quota place for Los Angeles 2028, offered it has not already certified by one other pathway.
For India, subsequently, the goal is obvious: win the Asian Games gold medal and safe direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics.
India have been positioned in Pool B alongside Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Uzbekistan. The staff will open its marketing campaign towards Uzbekistan on 20 September, adopted by matches towards Indonesia on 21 September, Thailand on 23 September, Japan on 25 September and Singapore on 27 September.
The knockout part will start on 30 September, with the semi-finals scheduled for a similar day, earlier than the gold-medal match on 2 October.
Captain Salima Tete, who has led India to the Nations Cup title and the historic World Cup fifth-place end this 12 months, mentioned the staff is set to construct on its current performances and ship when it issues most.
“We are going into the Asian Games with a lot of confidence, but we also know that every tournament brings a new challenge. The Nations Cup and the World Cup have given us belief in what we can achieve together, and now our focus is on taking that one step further. Our goal is very clear – we want to fight for the gold medal and earn direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. We know it will require consistency, discipline and giving our best in every match, and as a team we are ready for that challenge,” Tete mentioned.
The Indian squad combines skilled campaigners similar to Savita, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Nikki Pradhan, Lalremsiami and Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam with a promising group of youthful gamers who’ve made an influence in current worldwide assignments. The 20-member Asian Games squad consists of two goalkeepers (Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam), 5 defenders (Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas), six midfielders (Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (C), Neha, Deepika Soreng) and 7 forwards (Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung).
After a 12 months that has already seen India raise the Nations Cup and obtain its greatest World Cup end in additional than 5 a long time, the Asian Games current a chance to show that momentum into one other landmark achievement. (ANI)