Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The India women’s national field hockey team reached the final of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026 after defeating Italy women’s national field hockey team 1-0 in a closely fought semi-final at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Friday.The match remained tight for most of the game, with both teams battling hard in midfield and creating limited clear chances. India will now face England women’s national field hockey team in the final on March 14 at 7:30 PM IST.India began strongly and made several attacking moves early, but Italy gradually fought back and threatened the Indian defence with a few promising attacks.
India gained more control in the second quarter and started pushing forward using the wings. The hosts earned multiple penalty corners but failed to convert them. In the 18th minute, India’s first penalty corner saw Navneet Kaur’s shot saved by Italian goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso. Later in the half, India tried an interesting variation when captain Salima Tete took a shot after the ball was played back to her, but an Italian defender stopped it on the goal line. Another penalty corner soon after also went wide.Italy threatened early in the second half when Emilia Munitis broke through on goal, but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam produced an important save to keep the scores level.The breakthrough finally came in the 40th minute when India won another penalty corner. Manisha Chauhan stepped up and fired a powerful drag-flick straight down the middle to score the only goal of the match.Italy pushed hard for an equaliser in the final minutes and even won a late penalty corner in the 59th minute, but India’s defence held firm to secure the win.
