India Women’s Hockey Team Wins FIH Nations Cup Title, Defeats New Zealand 2-0

The Indian women’s hockey team won the FIH Women’s Nations Cup title in New Zealand after defeating the host nation 2-0 in the final on Sunday. Remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, India lifted the trophy for the second time in history.

India had previously won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2022. With this victory, the Indian women’s team also secured qualification for the FIH Pro League.

India made a strong start in the final, earning a penalty corner in the fourth minute. Navneet Kaur successfully converted the opportunity into a goal, giving India an early lead.

The Indian team doubled its advantage at the end of the first quarter when another penalty corner was converted by Odisha’s Sunelita Toppo, putting India ahead 2-0.

India continued its disciplined performance in the second quarter, denying New Zealand any clear scoring chances. The first half ended with India maintaining a comfortable 2-0 lead.

In the final two quarters, India’s defence stood firm and prevented the home team from making a comeback. New Zealand struggled to break through the Indian defensive line, while goalkeeper Savita made a crucial save in the final quarter to stop a penalty corner and confirm India’s victory.

Following the title win and Pro League qualification, Hockey India announced cash rewards for the players and support staff. Each player of the Indian women’s team will receive ₹3 lakh, while the support staff will be awarded ₹1.5 lakh each.

For her outstanding performance in the final, Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match. Indian forward Deepika, who scored six goals in the tournament, was jointly awarded Player of the Tournament along with USA’s Ashley Sessa.

The victory marks another proud moment for Indian women’s hockey and showcases the team’s growing dominance on the international stage.