India women's hockey captain Salima Tete has declared her team's intent to win the gold medal at the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2026, expressing full confidence in the squad's ability to challenge the world's best after a dominant FIH Nations Cup triumph in Auckland, New Zealand.

Momentum from Nations Cup

India arrive at the World Cup on the back of a commanding Nations Cup campaign in June, where they remained unbeaten before defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final. The title has injected significant confidence into the group ahead of the sport's biggest stage.

'This time, the FIH Hockey World Cup will be ours. We will play smart, attacking hockey and bring back a medal. I have full belief in my team. We have the ability to do it,' Tete said in an interview with JioStar.

Pool D Fixtures and Schedule

The World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, runs from 15 to 30 August. India have been drawn in Pool D alongside China, England, and South Africa, with all pool matches scheduled at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. India open their campaign against China on 16 August, followed by South Africa on 18 August and England on 20 August.

Tete on Leadership and Nerves

Appearing in her second World Cup, Tete acknowledged the nerves that accompany the tournament but emphasised channelling them productively. 'I feel nervous too, and that's normal. Every player goes through it. But whenever I step onto the pitch, I tell myself that I must play for my team, support every player, and take responsibility,' she said.

As captain, Tete has taken on the role of absorbing pressure so the younger members of the squad can play freely. She specifically singled out Sakshi Rana, Ishika, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal as players who should be allowed to express themselves without the weight of expectations.

Youth Energy and Goalkeeper Confidence

Tete highlighted the galvanising effect of the squad's younger players, noting that their enthusiasm lifts the entire group. 'When the junior players come into the team, they bring a lot of energy. They always tell us, Didi, we have to push hard, we have to play good hockey, and we need that medal. Hearing that from them gives us all a lot of positivity,' she said.

She also credited India's goalkeepers for giving the outfield players the freedom to attack. 'When you know your goalkeeper has your back, you play without fear. And if we play with fear, we can't perform at our best,' Tete added.

Preparation and Road Ahead

India's World Cup build-up included a training block in Bengaluru followed by a camp in Germany, where the team played two practice matches against the hosts before travelling to the Netherlands. With a challenging pool and the weight of a nation's expectations, India will be looking to translate recent form into a historic result when the tournament begins on 15 August.