India, Aug. 11 -- 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. From finishing fourth at the inaugural edition in France in 1974 to ending ninth in 2022, the India women have featured in only eight of the 15 editions of the tournament so far.

Here is a look at Indian women's WC journey:

1974, France: Led by Ajinder Kaur, India made a memorable debut, defeating eventual champions the Netherlands in the group stage. Wins over Mexico and Spain helped India top their pool despite a defeat against Belgium. India lost to Argentina in semifinals before going down to West Germany in...