The Indian women's team delivered a stellar performance in their second Pool D match against South Africa at the 2026 Hockey World Cup, securing a resounding 6-1 victory and claiming the top spot in the pool.
Indian women team handed South Africa a crushing 6-1 defeat at the Hockey World Cup
The Indian women's hockey team played their second Pool D match against South Africa in the 2026 Hockey World Cup, securing a resounding 6-1 victory. Earlier, Team India had played their opening pool match against China, which ended in a 2-2 draw; consequently, this match was crucial for them, and they succeeded in winning it by a large margin.
With this victory, Team India has moved to the top of Pool D with 4 points. The team maintained their dominance throughout all four quarters of the match.
Team India Dominates from the First Quarter
Team India maintained its dominance over the South African women's hockey team right from the opening quarter; Sunelita Toppo scored India's first goal in the 10th minute. The Indian team led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter.
When play resumed in the second quarter, Navneet Kaur scored India's second goal in the 16th minute. Subsequently, Sushila Chanu scored in the 24th minute, extending the Indian women's team's lead to 3-0 by the end of the second quarter.
Indian women's team scores three goals in the third quarter to seal the win
After establishing a 3-0 lead in the first two quarters, the Indian women's team displayed excellent form in the third quarter, scoring three goals to extend their lead to 6-0. Deepika scored in the 37th minute and Lalremsiami in the 43rd, while Sakshi Rana netted the quarter's third goal in the 44th minute, virtually sealing the victory for India. In the fourth and final quarter, South Africa's Kayla de Waal scored a goal in the 54th minute, but she could not prevent her team from suffering a 6-1 defeat.
Indian team secures the top spot in Pool D
By winning this match with a commanding 6-1 margin, the Indian women's team has secured the top spot in Pool D with 4 points. Although the Chinese team also has 4 points, they sit in second place; India holds the lead due to a superior goal difference. The Indian women's team will now play their final pool match against England on August 20, starting at 6:30 PM IST.
