Bichu Devi saves help India hold England 0-0 in Amstelveen to advance from Pool D
India held England to a 0-0 draw in their final Pool D match of the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen on Thursday, securing second place in the group and progression to the next round with five points. The result kept India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
India entered the match with four points and required at least a draw to finish in the top two, while England, on three points, needed a win to advance. China topped Pool D with seven points after beating South Africa 5-1 earlier in the day, and England and South Africa will now compete in classification matches. The report states that both India and China will carry one point forward from the pool-stage draw and will be clubbed with the Netherlands and Australia, with India scheduled to face the hosts Netherlands on August 21 and Australia on August 23.
India produced the brighter start, winning a penalty corner in the fourth minute after Sunelita Toppo’s run into the circle; Navneet Kaur’s direct attempt struck an Indian striker. Three minutes later Navneet dragged an effort wide and Deepika missed from a penalty corner in the eighth minute. England’s first meaningful response came with a penalty corner in the 10th minute, and Sophie Hamilton shot narrowly wide as the opening quarter ended without goals.
The second quarter became end-to-end. Sushila Chanu made a timely tackle to deny England, Ishika was crowded out by the goalkeeper following a turnover in the 21st minute, and Salima Tete saw a shot palmed away. India earned a penalty corner in the 26th minute but Deepika’s drag-flick was saved; England then had two penalty corners when Bichu Devi produced an excellent save to deny Darcy Bourne and another Bourne attempt was blocked before Tessa Howard received a yellow card in the 30th minute.
India began the third quarter with a numerical advantage from Howard’s suspension and won a penalty corner, which was blocked, while a subsequent direct hit was ruled out for height. England then gained ascendancy: Savita made a fine save from an English penalty corner in the 38th minute and kept out another effort moments later. India were reduced to 10 players when Ishika Chaudhary received a green card in the 42nd minute, and England earned successive penalty corners that India repeatedly defended, including a vital block by Salima just before the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter was played largely in India’s half as England continued to press, earning a penalty corner in the 50th minute after India’s referral failed and a further penalty corner following an English referral. England removed their goalkeeper with under five minutes remaining in search of a winner. A decisive intervention came in the final minute when Bichu Devi dived sharply to her left to make a superb save; seconds later the final hooter sounded to confirm the goalless draw. India recorded six penalty corners and 13 circle entries, while facing 28 English circle entries and defending 12 penalty corners across the match.
China finished top of Pool D with seven points and two wins, India second with five points, England third with four points and South Africa bottom after losing all three matches. India and China advance to the next round and retain semi-final chances, while England and South Africa move to the classification stage; the report also states India will next face South Africa on August 21 (Friday) at 9:30 pm IST.