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FIH World Cup: India and China split points with a 2-2 draw
India twice took the lead but China fought back each time as the Asian hockey rivals settled for a 2-2 World Cup draw.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sun, 16, Aug 2026
- 11:55 EDT
- 37
Team India / X/ TheHockeyIndia
In a game that did not rise to expectations, two Asian women's hockey giants – China and India – played a 2-2 draw in the FIH World Cup Hockey at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Aug. 16.
Though India took the lead on both occasions, it could not sustain the lead and conceded the initiative to settle for a point. Clumsy passing and playing with sticks rather than with the ball cost India dearly.
Indian players were mostly penalised for hitting the sticks, while on the other hand, Chinese players did try to open the game with better positioning and measured passes. India started well by forcing a penalty corner early in the game.
From the first penalty corner in the fifth minute, Navneet's direct shot was saved by the goalkeeper before it was cleared.
Also read: FIH World Cup: Asian teams, except for India, start on a losing note
India, however, continued to build the pressure. In the seventh minute, from a free hit outside the striking circle, Neha saw Navneet deflecting it goalwards. Luckily for India, it went unchallenged and hit the boards.
Elated by its initial success, Indian girls continued to build pressure as the Chinese players struggled to find their own footing.
As the game was nearing the end of its first quarter, a physical obstruction that brought down Jiaqi Zhong, the umpire, led to a penalty stroke that Indian players challenged. The video referee, however, upheld the ground umpire’s decision. Ying Zhang made no mistake from the dreaded spot to beat Savita Punia in India’s goal. The teams broke level at the end of the first quarter.
After changing ends, India earned its second penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Navneet took a mighty swipe at the goal. From the goalkeeper's pads, she got a rebound that she attempted with a powerful shot. Navneet tried to hit back the rebound that, unfortunately, hit her own player while travelling towards its destination. Baljeet, who appealed to the umpire for another penalty corner, was shown a green card for temporary suspension.
The third penalty corner for India in the 25th minute proved productive as Deepika’s attempt deflected from a defender’s stick into the net. The umpire, after blowing for a goal on second thought, sought VR. The VR upheld her earlier decision, and India again shot into the lead before the teams broke for an interval.
A penalty corner was earned by China in the 39th minute, from which Ma Ning made no mistake to restore parity again.
Another penalty corner for China followed in the 40th minute. It was Savita Punia who cleared it to avert any further damage.
Savita was replaced at the start of the fourth quarter.
A penalty corner for China in the 57th minute – for striking sticks – followed. Luckily, the Chinese could not drive any advantage from the award,, and the game petered out to a 2-2 draw with the two Asian teams splitting points. It was the second time that teams from the same continent playing against each other ended in drawn games. Yesterday, Argentina drew its opening game against the USA in the women's section. And today it was the turn of Asia when China and India split points.
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