New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- Having won the FIH Nations Cup recently, the Indian women's hockey team have got the much-needed momentum heading into the FIH World Cup 2026, despite being put in a challenging Pool D. India are placed alongside China, England and South Africa in the FIH Women's World Cup 2026, jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.

Indian hockey's rich legacy is largely associated with the eight-time Olympic champion men's team, but the women's side has had a far more arduous journey, marked by inconsistent participation at the World Cup. Since inaugural edition in 1974, the Indian team have featured in only eight of the 15 editions of the tournament so far.

India's best finish came in 1974, when they...