India eye semi-final spot against Wales in hockey qualifiers

India’s women’s hockey team will face Wales in their final Pool B match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad on March 11, needing at least a draw to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Hyderabad: After two exciting games, the India women’s national field hockey team is ready to face Wales women’s national field hockey team in its final Pool B match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Gachibowli Hockey Complex here on March 11.

With a semi-final spot on the line, India currently sits at the top of the points table with four points and a strong goal difference.

---

The top two teams from the pool will advance. If India wins or draws against Wales, it will qualify for the semi-finals. If India loses, it will remain on four points and its qualification will depend on the match between Scotland women’s national field hockey team and Uruguay women’s national field hockey team, with the final spot potentially being decided on goal difference.

The Indian women’s hockey team has had a strong campaign so far. It opened the tournament with a commanding 4-0 win over Uruguay on March 8 and then fought hard for a 2-2 draw against Scotland on Monday. Young forward Sunelita Toppo has been in top form, scoring in both matches. Attackers Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal have also been impressive, finding the net and creating multiple scoring opportunities.

At the back, the defence has held firm, with goalkeeper Bichu Devi making crucial saves consistently. Playing in front of a cheering home crowd in Hyderabad has also given the hosts a significant boost.

Reflecting on the team’s performances so far, captain Salima Tete said: “After the opening two games, there is positivity in the team. The young players are taking their opportunities and have been doing very well. The team is relishing playing freely, and that is a very good thing for us.”

“We want to qualify for the World Cup and become champions. That’s what we talk about when the team is together, and that’s our goal,” she added.

India holds a promising record against Wales, leading the head-to-head battles 5-1. However, Wales will be eager to register their first win of the campaign, so India must stay focused to finish the pool stage on a winning note.

The live streaming of the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Hyderabad 2026 matches will be available on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar.