The Indian women’s team have secured their spot in the finals match of the ongoing 2026 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad. On Friday, March 13, the Indians defeated Italy by 1-0 in the semi-finals match. Manisha Chauhan was the lone goal scorer for India and will next face England in the title clash scheduled on Saturday. It was a close battle between the two teams with both wanting possession in the midfield.
India started the match strong-headed, owning a couple of strong circle entries. Italy started to counter-attack aggressively and got themselves a few good chances on goal. India got their rhythm back in the second quarter and started to push the ball ahead near to the net by attacking in numbers that got them some important circle entries.
Later in the 18th minute, India got their first penalty corner and Kaur made an attempt for a goal but the ball was successfully stopped by Italy’s goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso. 27th minute into the game they got another penalty corner through a variation. The ball was handed to captain Salima Tete whose shot was stopped by Italy’s last defender on the line that denied them a goal. Two minutes later India got another opportunity to get a penalty corner but Kaur missed it after it went off the target.
Few minutes into the second half, Italy then makes some strong attack for a goal through Emilia Munitis but India’s goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam gets a crucial save for the team. Later, in the 40th minute, India got another penalty corner and they successfully reached the deadlock. Going down the middle, Chauhan made a powerful drag flick that went past the Italian defence and got India the first goal of the match.
In the final quarters India then won two early penalty corners while pushing Italy to the edge and got themselves some advantage in the final quarter. Italy held a strong defensive gameplay until the end and earned a crucial penalty corner in the 59th minute but India denied them to tie the match and they secured the victory at the end.
