India women's hockey team begins FIH World Cup 2026 prep in Bengaluru
Synopsis
Fresh off an unbeaten Nations Cup title, India's women's hockey team is in camp at SAI Bengaluru with the FIH World Cup 2026 a month away. Coach Sjoerd Marijne says the energy in training is unmistakable — and with China as the opening opponent on 16 August, India will need every bit of it.
Key Takeaways
India women's hockey team is training at the SAI Centre, Bengaluru ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 .
The World Cup runs from 15 to 30 August in Belgium and the Netherlands .
India is placed in Pool D and opens against China on 16 August , followed by South Africa ( 18 August ) and England ( 20 August ).
The squad enters the tournament on the back of an unbeaten title run at the FIH Nations Cup .
Coach Sjoerd Marijne says the team is balancing high, medium, and low-intensity sessions to peak at the right time.
The Asian Games follows the World Cup, adding further significance to the current preparation block.
The Indian women's hockey team has entered the final and most critical phase of its preparation for the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2026, with chief coach Sjoerd Marijne describing the squad's mood as highly motivated and energised. Training is currently underway at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru, with the global showpiece in Belgium and the Netherlands just weeks away.
Tournament Schedule and Group Stage Draw
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on 15 August, with India's campaign opening on 16 August against pre-tournament favourites China in Pool D. The squad then faces South Africa on 18 August before wrapping up the group stage against England on 20 August. The tournament runs through 30 August, with the men's and women's editions being staged simultaneously across the two host nations.
Momentum from the FIH Nations Cup
India arrives at the World Cup on the back of an unbeaten title-winning campaign at the FIH Nations Cup — one of the strongest recent performances by the women's side. That result has injected considerable confidence into the camp and given the coaching staff a solid foundation to build upon in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
Marijne noted that the twin challenge of the World Cup and the upcoming Asian Games has only sharpened the players' focus. 'The team is very motivated for the upcoming period with the two major tournaments ahead. The players are excited, and you can clearly see that energy during our training sessions. Everyone is working hard every day, and there is a real hunger within the group to keep improving,' he said.
Training Approach and Fitness Management
With the tournament a month away, the coaching staff is balancing intensity with recovery to ensure peak readiness. Marijne outlined a structured training model that blends high, medium, and low-intensity sessions, with strength and conditioning coaches tracking each player's workload closely.
'Our focus remains on ourselves. We want to take another step forward, especially in terms of fitness, while continuing to improve the areas we have been working on over the past few months. We have a good balance of high, medium, and low-intensity sessions because you cannot train at maximum intensity every day. Our strength and conditioning coaches closely monitor every player to make sure the team is ready. I can see the progress we are making, both individually and as a team, and that gives me a lot of confidence going into the World Cup,' Marijne added.
What to Watch
India's opener against China on 16 August will be an early litmus test of how far the team has progressed since its Nations Cup triumph. A strong start in Pool D could set the tone for a deep run at the tournament. With the Asian Games also on the horizon, how the coaching staff manages player workloads across both competitions will be a key subplot of India's season.
Point of View
But the FIH World Cup is a different order of competition — and India's Pool D draw, with China as the first opponent, offers no gentle entry. The real question is whether Marijne's fitness-first approach translates into the high-press, sustained-intensity hockey that the top European and Asian sides demand over a knockout tournament. India has historically struggled to convert strong group-stage momentum into semifinal appearances at World Cups; the Nations Cup win matters only if the squad can replicate that form under greater defensive pressure. Managing two major tournaments back-to-back — World Cup and Asian Games — without peaking too early will test the depth of the squad as much as its first XI.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does India play its first match at the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2026?
India opens its World Cup campaign on 16 August against China in Pool D. Subsequent group-stage matches are against South Africa on 18 August and England on 20 August.
Where is the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2026 being held?
The tournament is being co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands , running from 15 to 30 August 2026 . The men's and women's editions are staged simultaneously across both countries.
What is India's recent form heading into the World Cup?
India won the FIH Nations Cup without losing a single match, making it one of the team's strongest recent performances. The coaching staff is building on that momentum during the current training camp in Bengaluru.
Who is coaching the Indian women's hockey team?
Sjoerd Marijne is the chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team. He has described squad morale as high and pointed to visible progress in both individual and team performance during training.
Why is this World Cup particularly significant for Indian women's hockey?
Beyond the World Cup, the team also has the Asian Games ahead, making this a high-stakes double tournament stretch. A strong World Cup showing would reinforce India's standing among Asia's top hockey nations and build confidence heading into the Asian Games.
