India’s campaign at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup ended on Sunday after the team was held to a goalless draw by Australia in their final second-round match at Amstelveen, the Netherlands. The result sent Australia into the semi-finals on the basis of goals scored.

The equation was straightforward before the match. India needed an outright win to keep its title hopes alive, while Australia only had to avoid defeat. With neither side able to find the net, the advantage stayed with the Hockeyroos.

The result came after the Netherlands defeated China 4-1 earlier in the day, eliminating China from the competition and leaving India and Australia to battle directly for the remaining semi-final place.

India pushed for the decisive goal but could not break through Australia's defence. The lack of goals ultimately proved costly for the Indian side, which needed all three points from the contest.

Australia, meanwhile, approached the game knowing that a draw would be enough. The Hockeyroos managed to keep India scoreless for the full duration and secured their place in the last four.

For India, the result brings an end to a World Cup campaign in which the team had shown promise but could not produce the required result when the semi-final place was at stake. The side will now turn its attention to the classification matches.

The tournament has also highlighted how fine the margins can be at the international level. With India and Australia unable to separate themselves on the field, the number of goals scored became decisive in determining which team would advance.

India’s inability to convert its attacking opportunities into goals was particularly significant in a match where there was little room for error. Australia did not need to chase the game in the same way, allowing the team to focus on maintaining its defensive organisation and protecting the result.

The Indian team, led by captain Salima Tete, will now compete for a fifth- or sixth-place finish. While that is a step away from the semi-final target, the remaining matches will give the side an opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note.

Australia’s progression, meanwhile, keeps its World Cup title challenge alive. The Hockeyroos will now prepare for the semi-final after surviving a tense final second-round contest against India.

For India, Sunday’s draw was ultimately enough to end its hopes of reaching the last four. The scoreline remained 0-0 until the final whistle, leaving the Indian players with no way back into the semi-final race.

Hockey India's decision to switch the national team's traditional blue jersey to orange for the upcoming FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups has triggered debate, with former India captain Viren Rasquinha openly questioning the move. Hockey India unveiled the new jerseys ahead of the two major tournaments, with both the men's and women's teams set to wear the changed colour scheme on the world stage. The men's Hockey World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30, while the women's tournament is scheduled from August 15 to 30. The launch was meant to mark the beginning of India's World Cup campaign, but much of the conversation quickly shifted towards the jersey itself. Rasquinha, who represented India for several years, said the national hockey team's identity and legacy had traditionally been associated with blue and questioned the reasoning behind replacing it with orange.

Expressing his disappointment on X, Rasquinha acknowledged that Hockey India had done several positive things for the sport but called the latest jersey decision “embarrassing”. He recalled wearing the blue India jersey with pride during his playing career and argued that supporters also associate the national hockey side with that colour. “The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE,” Rasquinha wrote while questioning the logic behind orange. His comments have added another dimension to the buildup for a tournament where the Indian men's team will be attempting to end a long wait for another World Cup title. India have been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan. The country last won the men's Hockey World Cup in 1975, defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final. Since then, another world title has remained out of reach. India finished ninth when the tournament was held in Bhubaneswar in 2023, but the team enters the latest edition with stronger expectations following a successful run in major international competitions, including back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title and two Asian Champions Trophy triumphs.

The Indian women's team will also enter the World Cup hoping to make an impact. India are placed in Pool D and will begin their campaign against China on August 16, before facing South Africa and England. Captain Salima Tete said ahead of the team's departure that the squad was looking forward to the challenge after a productive training block. She said the immediate focus would be on carrying that preparation into practice matches and then into the World Cup itself, with the opening fixture against China expected to provide an important early test. While both Indian teams are now concentrating on their preparations, the India hockey orange jersey debate has ensured an unusual backdrop to their World Cup campaigns. Rasquinha's criticism centres not on the design alone but on the larger question of sporting identity and whether a colour closely associated with a national team over generations should be changed. Hockey India, based on the information available here, has not provided a detailed explanation for why orange was chosen over the familiar blue. With the World Cups approaching, attention will eventually shift towards performances on the field, but the jersey change has already become one of the major talking points before India begins its campaign.

India produced a ruthless performance to hammer arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 here on Friday, registering their second victory over the neighbours in three days.

The match at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre saw India extend their unbeaten run against Pakistan to 10 years. This was also India’s fourth win of the season as they climbed to seventh place on the points table. Pakistan, on the other hand, continued their dismal run, suffering their 15th straight defeat and remaining at the bottom.

Pakistan drew first blood in the 13th minute when Abu Mahmood converted a penalty corner. It was the same player who had scored in the previous meeting between the two sides. However, India took complete control of the game in the second quarter.

Sukhjeet Singh equalised in the 20th minute. Captain Harmanpreet Singh then gave India the lead six minutes later. The floodgates opened after that as Hardik Singh and Jugraj Singh scored in back-to-back minutes in the 34th and 35th. Jugraj’s strike came from a swift counter-attack.

Abhishek added another goal in the 41st minute, his second against Pakistan in two matches. Raj Kumar Pal made it 6-1 in the 44th minute before Dilpreet Singh completed the rout in the 54th. In all, seven different Indian players got their names on the scoresheet.

The match was not without concern. Pakistan forward Ahmad Nadeem was hit on the face in the second quarter and had to leave the field in a wheelchair after receiving medical attention. The extent of his injury is not yet known.

The comprehensive victory will boost India’s confidence as they continue their Pro League campaign. The team, under new captain Harmanpreet Singh, showed sharp attacking intent and solid defensive structure after the early setback.

Pakistan, struggling throughout the season, could not find any rhythm despite the early lead. Their defence looked vulnerable against India’s quick transitions and set-piece execution.

This result further highlights the growing gap between the two traditional rivals in world hockey. While India continues to evolve and compete with top teams, Pakistan are finding it difficult to secure even a single point in the league.

The Indian team will now look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches. For Pakistan, the focus remains on damage control and finding ways to stop the slide.