Goa, Aug. 21 -- India have advanced to the second round of the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 after finishing second in Pool D. The Indian women's hockey team secured its place in the next stage following a goalless draw against England on Thursday.

The tournament has adopted a new format this year, making the second round particularly important for India's hopes of reaching the semi-finals. The team, led by Salima Tete and coached by Sjoerd Marijne, will now compete in Pool E alongside the Netherlands, Australia and China.

Under the new format, India must finish among the top two teams in Pool E to secure a place in the semi-finals. With two challenging fixtures against the Netherlands and Australia ahead, India will need to produce...