India eliminated from Hockey World Cup after 0-0 draw with Australia in Amstelveen
India’s women’s hockey team were eliminated from the Hockey World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Australia in Amstelveen on August 23, 2026, with the Australians advancing to the semi-finals on goals scored.
Only a win would have taken India through while Australia needed only a draw; the Netherlands’ 4-1 victory over China kept India’s hopes alive earlier in the day and sent China out of contention. In Tokyo 2020 India stunned the Hockeyroos 1-0 to reach their first-ever Olympic semi-final, and five years later the same opponent and another semi-final berth were on the line; India’s wait for a World Cup semi-final therefore continues. The team had finished fourth at the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1974, but have not been able to reach the last four since.
The opening quarter was cagey, with Australia enjoying more possession while India relied on a disciplined defensive shape. Australia appeared to have taken the lead when a close-range effort deflected off Jyoti and into the net, but India referred the decision and the TV umpire ruled the goal out for dangerous play. India were reduced to 10 players when Baljeet received a green card, yet Australia failed to make the numerical advantage count and Savita produced an important save to deny Abigail Wilson.
Australia continued to press in the second quarter and Bichu Devi, brought on for Savita as part of India’s rotation, made a crucial stop from a reverse-hit. Australia earned a penalty corner but the injection was poor and India escaped; the quarter also brought injury concerns when Ishika Chaudhary was struck on the head and Lalremsiami suffered a painful blow to her knee. India had a late penalty corner in the half but could not convert and Nikki missed a major chance with seconds remaining.
India improved after the interval following coach Sjoerd Marijne’s instruction for better possession and began to string together attacks, though Australia remained dangerous on the break. The Australians appeared to score from a penalty corner through Stephanie Kershaw, but India referred the decision and the goal was overturned for dangerous play, the second Australian effort ruled out after a referral. India fashioned a chance when Deepika failed to make clean contact after a move involving Navneet and Baljeet.
With the match still goalless after three quarters, India had 15 minutes to salvage their campaign and they pushed men forward in search of a goal. Navneet and Lalremsiami found a big opening inside the circle but hesitation over who would shoot allowed Australia to recover; with five minutes remaining India removed Bichu Devi and introduced an extra outfield player. Australia earned late penalty corners and threatened to punish India’s gamble.
India’s defence withstood the late pressure, Salima Tete producing a first-rushing block to deny Australia and the side surviving a penalty corner defended without a goalkeeper. The final whistle confirmed a 0-0 draw and India’s elimination, with Australia advancing by virtue of having scored three goals in the tournament to India’s two.
Under Marijne, belief has returned to the side. The next step, however, is turning that belief and defensive resilience into the goals required to win the biggest matches.
