Goa, Aug. 27 -- India concluded its campaign at the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 on a high note, securing a 3-1 victory over Germany in their fifth/sixth place classification match on Thursday. The result earned the national squad a fifth-place finish overall, marking India's best performance at the prestigious tournament since 1974.

The team navigated a challenging route through the initial phases of the competition. In the opening round, India finished second in its pool-a group that included China, South Africa, and England. The team showcased its offensive power early on with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa, alongside steady draws against both England and China to advance.

Moving into the second round, India faced to...