India secured a remarkable victory at the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 in Auckland by defeating the hosts 2-0 in a thrilling final. This win earned them a promotion to the next season of the FIH Pro League. Throughout the tournament, India displayed dominance by remaining unbeaten and triumphing over various strong opponents.
The title-deciding match witnessed early goals from Navneet Kaur in the fourth minute and Sunelita Toppo in the 15th minute, ultimately leading to India’s victory. Lalremsiami was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for her outstanding performance, while Deepika emerged as the joint top-scorer of the tournament with six goals, sharing the honor with USA’s Ashley Sessa.
In recognition of the team’s success, Hockey India announced a cash reward of INR 3 lakh for each player and INR 1.5 lakh for each support staff member. Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed his satisfaction with the team’s growth, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences and improving continuously.
Captain Salima Tete expressed immense pride in the team’s hard work and dedication that led to lifting the trophy. The victory not only secured promotion to the Pro League but also boosted the team’s confidence for future competitions, including the upcoming World Cup. Salima highlighted the team’s strong mindset and the significance of each match in their journey towards success.
