India opens Hockey World Cup with men's win and women's draw

The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, has commenced with significant performances from the Indian national teams.

In the men's tournament, India secured a 3-1 victory over Wales in their Pool D opener at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. Captain Harmanpreet Singh led the team with two goals scored from penalty corners, while Sanjay added a third. Despite the win, analysts noted a reliance on set-pieces, as India struggled to convert open-play opportunities into goals. India's next major challenge is a Pool D clash against England, a team they have not defeated in a World Cup in 32 years.

The Indian women's team also began their campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China. Navneet and Deepika scored for India, but China managed to equalize twice, including a penalty stroke by Ying Zhang. The match highlighted India's attacking intent but also revealed vulnerabilities in defensive composure and passing.

Other notable tournament developments include Australia's 3-1 victory over Ireland and England's 4-1 win against Pakistan. During the Pakistan-England match, the Pakistani captain received a green card after the team was found to be without essential penalty corner protective equipment.