India’s 51-Year FIH Hockey World Cup Semi-Final Wait Co…
Salima Tete-led India's Women’s Hockey World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak on Sunday as Australia held them to a goalless draw in their final second-round match, securing their place in the semi-finals and ending India’s hopes of reaching the last four.
India needed an outright win to progress, while Australia only needed to avoid defeat. With neither side able to find the breakthrough, the Hockeyroos advanced on the basis of their superior goals scored.
For India, it was a frustrating end to a campaign that had promised so much. After going unbeaten through the opening round and reaching the second phase with renewed belief, Sjoerd Marijne’s side came within one win of ending a 51-year wait for a Women’s Hockey World Cup semi-final appearance.
The wait continues.
Australia gets its revenge
There was history between these two teams. Five years after India’s famous 1-0 quarter-final victory over the Hockeyroos at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Australia despite holding India to a goalless draw, got the better result in today’s high-pressure game. The circumstances were different, but the significance of the result is difficult to ignore.
India starts with urgency, but Australia threatens.
India knew from the start that a draw would not be enough and tried to impose themselves early. The urgency, however, also brought mistakes. India struggled to maintain possession and gave the ball away in dangerous areas, allowing Australia to launch several counter-attacks.
The Hockeyroos created the better chances during the opening stages, with Savita Punia called upon to make an important save as Australia applied pressure. India’s defense, which had been one of the strengths of their World Cup campaign, once again stood firm. Australia even appeared to have scored early in the match, but the goal was ruled out following a review for dangerous play. India continued to push forward, but the first quarter ended goalless.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern. Australia earned the first penalty corner of the match, although they could not convert it, while India struggled to build sustained pressure. India was also dealt two injury setbacks. Ishika received medical attention after being struck on the head by the ball, while Lalremsiami was forced off after taking a blow to her knee.
Despite the disruptions, India earned their first penalty corner just before half-time. However, Australia read the routine and prevented India from creating a clear opening. The two teams went into the break locked at 0-0.
India push after the break
India returned for the third quarter with greater attacking intent, knowing that time was beginning to work against them. Australia, though, continued to look dangerous on the counter. Kershaw missed a good opportunity for the Hockeyroos, while another Australian attack forced the Indian defense into action. Australia appeared to have found the breakthrough from a penalty corner, but the goal was disallowed after a review deemed the shot dangerous. India survived another scare before beginning to create chances of their own.
Shilpi sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but India could not find the final touch. Later, Baljeet produced another promising ball across the goalmouth, with Deepika unable to make the decisive connection. The opportunities were there. The goal was not.
India finished the third quarter strongly, but with only 15 minutes remaining, the equation was becoming increasingly difficult.
India go all out in final quarter
The final quarter became a race against time. Australia were happy to defend their position, knowing that the draw would be enough to take them through. India, meanwhile, had to commit more players forward and take greater risks.
One of their best opportunities came when Deepika sent the ball into the circle, but Navneet Kaur and Lalremsiami were unable to make the most of the opening. Another chance followed when Navneet appeared to have an opportunity to shoot, but the ball was eventually played towards Lalremsiami. Australia continued to threaten whenever India lost possession, forcing the Indian defense to remain alert despite their need to attack.
Bichu Devi then produced an important save to deny Australia before the Hockeyroos earned another penalty corner. With less than five minutes remaining, Marijne made the bold decision to take Bichu off and introduce an additional outfield player. India were now playing with an empty goal as they threw everything forward in search of the winner.
The move almost backfired immediately. Australia found space and had a golden opportunity to score into the empty net but could not finish. A near-perfect run from Salima Tete ensured India didn’t suffer without a goalkeeper between the posts.
India continued to push until the final hooter, but the breakthrough never came.
Australia advance, India bow out
The 0-0 draw was enough for Australia to progress to the semi-finals. For India, the result brought an end to a campaign that had shown both promise and frustration.
They had begun the World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medalists China before thrashing South Africa 6-1 and holding England to a goalless draw. The results took them into the second round unbeaten.
But their 0-2 defeat to the Netherlands changed the equation and left them needing to beat Australia to keep their semi-final dream alive. Against Australia, India defended resolutely and kept another clean sheet, but their inability to convert their attacking opportunities ultimately proved decisive. The missed chances inside the circle summed up India's night. There were openings, particularly in the latter stages, but India could not produce the final touch needed to change the game. Australia, meanwhile, remained disciplined enough to protect the result they needed.
For India, the World Cup ends at the second-round stage
There were encouraging signs throughout the campaign, but the defining frustration will be that they came so close to a historic semi-final appearance and could not find the one goal they needed. Australia marches on to the semi-finals. India’s 51-year wait for a Women’s Hockey World Cup semi-final appearance continues.
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