India clinched the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 title in Auckland on 22 June, defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in a commanding final to secure promotion to the next season of the FIH Pro League. The victory capped an unbeaten campaign that saw India outclass five opponents across pool stage, semi-finals, and the title decider.

How India Won the Final

Navneet Kaur struck in the 4th minute to give India an early advantage, and Sunelita Toppo doubled the lead in the 15th minute, effectively settling the contest. Striker Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match for her outstanding contribution in the final, while drag-flicker Deepika finished as joint top-scorer of the tournament with 6 goals, sharing the honour with USA's Ashley Sessa.

India's Dominant Campaign

India entered the tournament as the highest-ranked side and lived up to that billing throughout. They defeated the USA, Japan, and Uruguay in the pool stage, then edged past Chile in the semi-finals before overcoming New Zealand in the final — all without suffering a single defeat. This is a significant turnaround in form, particularly after a heartbreaking loss to England in the World Cup qualifier.

What the Coach Said

Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne highlighted the team's growth across the tournament. 'Of course, we are delighted to win our first tournament and final together. It was crucial for us to learn how to win finals, especially after our recent heartbreak against England at the World Cup qualifier. The team improved with every match. We relied on a very strong and well-organised defence,' he said.

Marijne also pointed to areas for improvement: 'While we created enough opportunities to score more, that remains an area where we must keep working. Our penalty-corner conversion was very good throughout this tournament. If we can achieve a higher conversion rate for field goals, that will be fantastic. It is never easy to win a tournament when you enter as the highest-ranked team. We showed that we can manage that pressure well.'

Captain Salima Tete on the Win

Captain Salima Tete said the squad entered Auckland with singular intent. 'It feels absolutely amazing to lift this trophy. Our entire team worked incredibly hard for this moment. We entered this tournament with a clear mindset to bring the trophy home. Securing promotion back to the Pro League was extremely important for us. I am proud that we achieved our goal,' she said.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Salima added: 'With the World Cup approaching, this victory provides a massive boost to our confidence. The team is playing with a very strong mindset right now. Every single match in this tournament was highly important for us. This win gives us the perfect momentum for our future preparations.'

Hockey India's Cash Reward

Hockey India announced a cash reward of ₹3 lakh per player and ₹1.5 lakh per support staff member to honour the team's achievement. The gesture underscores the federation's recognition of what is a significant result ahead of a busy international calendar, with the World Cup on the horizon.