India, Aug. 16 -- The Indian women's hockey team begins its FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign today with an opening match against China. The game will be played at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. Both teams are placed in Pool D, which also includes strong sides like England and South Africa.

India are currently ranked ninth in the world and is led by captain Salima Tete. They face a tough challenge against a highly ranked Chinese team, who sit fourth in the world rankings.

The Indian squad brings a mix of deep experience and new talent to the field. Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia is a key player for India, holding the record as the most-capped player in the tournament with 313 international appearances. At the ...