India's Hockey Hopes Dashed: Women's Team Relegated to Nations Cup After China Loss

Sunday - 10/08/2025 03:03

In a recent match, the Indian women's hockey team faced a defeat against China, with a final score of 2-3. This loss marks their eighth consecutive defeat in the FIH Pro League. Consequently, the team's performance places them at the bottom, leading to their relegation. India will now participate in the FIH Nations Cup.

India's Women's Hockey Team Relegated After Loss to China

The Indian women's hockey team faced a 2-3 defeat against China in the FIH Pro League, marking their eighth consecutive loss and confirming their relegation to the Nations Cup. Despite taking an early lead, India's campaign concluded with a bottom-place finish and 10 points from 16 matches.

Indian team faces relegation after Pro League defeat

The Indian women's hockey team relegated (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images)

As a result of this performance, India will now compete in the FIH Nations Cup, the second-tier tournament within the international hockey framework.

Match Highlights:

Sunelita Toppa scored in the 9th minute.
Rutuja Dadaso Pisal added another goal in the 38th minute.
China responded with two penalty corner conversions by Zhang Ying in the 19th and 39th minutes.
Xu Wenyu scored the decisive goal for China.

The match saw both teams displaying initial hesitation. China's Chen Yang missed an early opportunity.

India gained momentum, with Sunelita Toppo scoring after receiving a pass from Neha Goyal. China's subsequent penalty corner was thwarted by India's defense.

China intensified their attack, earning multiple penalty corners.

A defensive error led to China being awarded a penalty stroke, which was later changed to a penalty corner after an Indian referral.

Zhang Ying converted the penalty corner, leveling the score. She then scored again before halftime, giving China a 2-1 lead.

In the 37th minute, India earned consecutive penalty corners, with Rutuja scoring from a play assisted by Navneet Kaur, tying the score at 2-2.

India continued to press, earning another penalty corner in the 40th minute, but China's defense remained strong.

China dominated the latter part of the match, earning several penalty corners.

The decisive moment arrived in the 53rd minute when Xu deflected Zhang's flick into the goal, securing China's victory.

This defeat marked the end of India's FIH Pro League campaign, resulting in their relegation to the Nations Cup for the upcoming season.