Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 21 June 2026 congratulated the Indian women's hockey team on winning the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup for the second consecutive time, defeating New Zealand in the final to retain the title.

Context

Posting on X, CM Dhami extended his congratulations, writing: 'भारतीय महिला हॉकी टीम द्वारा न्यूज़ीलैंड को पराजित कर लगातार दूसरी बार FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup का खिताब अपने नाम करने पर हार्दिक बधाई' — translated as: 'Heartfelt congratulations to the Indian women's hockey team for defeating New Zealand and claiming the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup title for the second consecutive time.' He added that the historic victory had once again raised the honour and pride of the tricolour on the world stage, and that the entire nation was proud of this win.

Hockey India, the national governing body tagged in the post, has overseen a sustained period of development for the women's side, including international exposure camps and dedicated academies that have contributed to the team's competitive edge at the global level.

Policy Backdrop

CM Dhami attributed the team's success to the 'unprecedented encouragement, modern sports infrastructure, and effective policies for athletes' under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that it is because of these initiatives that 'India's daughters are setting new records on international stages and making the country proud.'

The central government's Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has expanded grassroots infrastructure and talent identification across states. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), strengthened from 2014 onward, has provided dedicated funding and training support for elite athletes, including those in hockey. Women's teams have received particular emphasis through these channels.

Stakeholders and Impact

The victory is significant for women athletes across India, reinforcing the case for continued investment in female sporting programmes at both central and state levels. State sports departments, including those in Uttarakhand, have aligned with centrally sponsored schemes to expand hockey infrastructure at the district level.

The broader pattern since 2014 has seen central and state governments prioritise performance-linked funding and infrastructure upgrades, a strategy that has coincided with improved results for Indian teams in Olympic and continental hockey competitions. Sporting success has also been leveraged as part of India's soft-power projection internationally.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the roll-out of state-level hockey infrastructure projects announced under Khelo India and India's campaign in upcoming major FIH tournaments. The back-to-back title defence is expected to strengthen calls for expanded grassroots programmes and higher performance budgets for the women's national side. Sustained political support from leaders such as CM Dhami signals that sports diplomacy and athlete welfare will remain prominent themes in governance narratives heading into the next electoral cycle.