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A semifinal spot already sealed, a relaxed Indian women's hockey squad would look to extremity the excavation engagements undefeated to bolster its assurance against a lower-ranked Uruguay successful the FIH Nations Cup present connected Thursday (June 18, 2026).
Unbeaten India are atop Pool A with six points from 2 games and person already qualified for the past four, having defeated USA 3-2 and Japan 2-1 successful their archetypal 2 matches.
India are determined to triumph the FIH Nations Cup to get their spot backmost successful adjacent season's elite FIH Pro League, from which they got relegated past year.
The Indian women's squad was relegated from the elite FIH Pro League to the second-tier FIH Hockey Nations Cup, pursuing its last-place decorativeness successful the 2024–25 season, aft managing lone 10 points from 16 matches.
The victor of the eight-nation FIH Nations Cup volition advancement to adjacent year's FIH Pro League.
Going into their last excavation crippled against a comparatively casual opponent, India would instrumentality bosom from their warring wins successful the opening 2 games.
Ranked ninth successful the world, the Salima Tete-led India volition decidedly commencement arsenic favourites against satellite no. 17 Uruguay, who person mislaid some their opening 2 matches.
India scored each their 5 goals successful the 2 matches done punishment corners. Deepika is associated 2nd successful the extremity scorers database with 2 strikes, portion Navneet Kaurn Salima and Lalremsiami recovered the nett erstwhile each.
But going into the concern extremity of the tournament, India's main manager Sjoerd Marijne would expect dense effort from his strikers and would privation them to find the nett from tract efforts and Uruguay provides them the champion accidental to bash that.
With 2 important tournaments lined up this twelvemonth -- World Cup and the Asian Games -- Marijne would besides beryllium tempted to effort retired caller combinations successful the remaining matches of the FIH Nations Cup, which is portion of the team's preparations for the large summons events.
Having considered 3 goals successful 2 matches, the Indian defence, though, needs to tighten up a bit.
India's main manager knows the value of it.
"In tournaments similar this, tiny moments often marque the biggest difference. We request to stay disciplined, enactment agreed arsenic a squad and marque the astir of our opportunities.
"The nonsubjective is not lone to execute bully results but besides to proceed gathering a beardown instauration for the future. We cognize the expectations are high, and the players are motivated to springiness their champion for the country," helium had said.
