India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 ended after a goalless draw against Australia in their decisive Pool E match at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Sunday.
With the Netherlands having beaten the People’s Republic of China earlier in the day, the equation was straightforward for the Indian women’s hockey team: only a victory would take it into the last four. Australia, meanwhile, needed just a draw to progress.
Despite pushing for the breakthrough and withdrawing their goalkeeper in the closing stages, India could not find the goal they needed as the match finished 0-0.
The Netherlands topped Pool E with nine points. Both India and Australia finished with two points and an identical goal difference of -2.
But it was Australia who joined defending champions the Netherlands in the semi-finals, progressing on the goals-scored criterion. India finished third in Pool E ahead of China on goal difference, and will now play for fifth place on Thursday.
Their opponents will be the third-placed team from Pool F, which will be determined after Monday’s matches.
“We had some chances as well, and we didn’t finish. We lose as a team; we’ll fight to finish fifth. This World Cup isn’t finished for us,” India captain Salima Tete said after the match.
Australia had the better of the early exchanges and thought they had gone ahead inside two minutes. India successfully challenged the decision, with a video referral showing the ball had come off an Australian attacker’s stick before striking an Indian defender.
Savita Punia was called upon in the 10th minute, producing a sharp save to deny Amy Lawton, while India looked most threatening through Salima Tete and Navneet Kaur down the right flank.
Bichu Devi Kharibam replaced Savita at the start of the second quarter and was quickly involved, making a diving save to keep out Grace Young in the 19th minute.
India gradually found more attacking territory but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a compact Australian defence. Their first penalty corner arrived in the final minute of the second quarter, but Navneet’s attempted variation was successfully defended as the teams went into half-time goalless.
India emerged with greater urgency after the break, knowing their FIH Hockey World Cup campaign was effectively down to 30 minutes.
Australia, however, continued to pose a threat and had the ball in the net again from a penalty corner in the 40th minute. For the second time in the match, a video referral resulted in the goal being disallowed.
India responded with one of their better attacking spells. Shilpi’s powerful effort flashed across goal before Deepika delivered a dangerous ball into the circle in the 45th minute, only for no Indian stick to meet it.
That left India with one quarter to find the goal that would keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Australia continued to create chances of their own, with Bichu making an excellent save with her outstretched leg in the 54th minute after an Indian defensive error. Salima also made an important clearance following an Australian penalty corner.
With just over five minutes remaining, India withdrew their goalkeeper for an extra outfield player and committed numbers forward in a final push for the winner.
The move left them vulnerable at the other end, but even when Australia earned a penalty corner in the 59th minute, Salima intervened to prevent the drag-flick from being executed.
India, however, could not manufacture one final opportunity at the other end.
The final whistle confirmed the goalless draw and brought India’s semi-final challenge to an end. Australia advanced to the last four, while India will turn their attention to the fifth-place classification match.
