India, March 7 -- Two years back, the Indian women's hockey team had failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Last year, they were relegated from the Pro League after finishing ninth and last in the elite competition.

Having already missed three chances to qualify for this year's World Cup - the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Pro League and last year's Asia Cup - the FIH World Cup Qualifiers that begin in Hyderabad on Sunday offers the final opportunity for the Salima Tete-led team to make the cut for the global showpiece to be held in Belgium and Netherlands in August. If they squander this chance, they will be cut-off from the world's top teams.

On paper, world No.9 India look strong enough to qualify. England, the best ranked side at No.7...