New Delhi: The Indian women’s hockey team claimed the title at the FIH Nations Cup by defeating the home team, New Zealand, with a score of 2-0 in the final held in Auckland on Sunday.
Event Context
Navneet Kaur scored in the 4th minute to give India an early advantage, followed by Sunelita Toppo, who netted another goal in the 15th minute to extend India’s lead. The team showcased a strong defensive performance, successfully securing their lead to clinch the title, which also signaled their return to the Pro League for the upcoming season.
Throughout the tournament, India dominated in Pool A, remaining undefeated. They triumphed over the United States 3-2, Japan 2-1, and Uruguay 3-2 before achieving an impressive 6-0 victory against Chile in the semi-finals.
Player Focus
Lalremsiami earned the Player-of-the-Match honor, while Deepika Sehrawat emerged as a co-top scorer in the tournament, netting six goals alongside American Ashley Sessa. This victory marks India’s second Nations Cup title, following their triumph in the inaugural edition held in 2022. To celebrate these accomplishments, Hockey India (HI) has announced a cash reward of ₹3 lakh for each player and ₹1.5 lakh for every support staff member.
