India Women’s Hockey Team (Photo by @Media_SAI on X) NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s national field hockey team reached the final of the 2026 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup qualifiers after defeating Italy’s women’s national field hockey team 1-0 in a tight semi-final at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Friday.The game was evenly matched for most of the game, with both teams fighting hard in midfield and creating limited chances. India will now take on the England national field hockey team in the final on March 14 at 7:30 PM IST.India started strongly and made some attacking moves early on, but Italy gradually fought back and threatened the Indian defense with some promising attacks.
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India gained more control in the second quarter and started pushing forward through the wings. The visitors earned several penalty corners, but were unable to convert them. India’s first penalty corner in the 18th minute saw Navneet Kaur’s shot deflected by Italian goalkeeper Lucia Ines Caruso. Later in the half, India tried an interesting diversion when captain Salima Tete fired a pass back to her but was stopped on the goal line by an Italian defender. Another penalty corner went wide soon after.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 scoreline intact.The breakthrough finally came in the 40th minute when India won another penalty corner. Manisha Chauhan came on and fired a powerful drive straight down the middle to score the only goal of the match.Italy pushed hard for an equalizer in the final minutes and even won a penalty corner in the 59th minute, but India’s defense sealed the win.
