IND vs CHN Highlights, Women's Hockey World Cup 2026: Navneet, Deepika score as India hold world no.4 China to 2-2 draw

It's a draw. After India take lead twice, China come back on both occasions. India open their campaign with a 2-2 draw. Notably, both their World Cup matches ended in draws. In 2022, India and China drew 1-1.

The Chinese have come strong in the second half and gets the equaliser. Ma Ning stops the injection beautifully and gets the goal. The scores are level. IND 2-2 CHN (Q3)

Another PC for India. Deepika takes the shot and the ball takes a deflection of a Chinese player before going inside the net. Chinese ask for a referral. TV umpire says the goal stays for India. India take the lead. IND 2-1 CHN (Q2)

India get a second PC in the second quarter but fails to make most of it. Navneet kaur takes the shot and her shot is blocked in the first attempt. She gets another chance but, it went straight at Lalremsiami and the player goes down in pain. India's Baljeet gets a green card for danger. IND 1-1 CHN (Q2)

The referee directs a penalty stroke to China after it seemed that an Indian player has pushed the Chinese forward. The Indians ask for a referral. TV replays show that India's Shilpi Dabas pushing Zhong Jiaqi. China equalise through Zhang Ying just before Q1 ends. IND 1-1 CHN

GOOAALLLLLLLL!!! India have taken the lead through a field goal. Navneet Kaur gets an assist inside the D and smartly angles the ball into the left corner of the goal. The Chinese defence are stunned. IND 1-0 CHN (Q1)

First penalty corner for India in the fifth minute. Navneet takes the shot and is blocked by the Chinese defence. IND 0-0 CHN (Q1)

Here comes the players of both the sides. Time for National Anthems. India will go first, followed by China. The Indians are playing in whites, while China are in their traditional red.

India have played China in 24 games in women's hockey, with both teams winning 11 games each. Only two matched ended in a ties. While most of the games between these two countries at the continental tournaments and the FIH Pro League, India's only game against China in a women's hockey World Cup came in 2022 edition, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam

Defenders: Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas

Midfielders: Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (c), Neha, Deepika Soreng

Forwards: Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung

Star Sports is the official broadcaster of the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026. The India vs China women's hockey World Cup match will be telecast live on Star Sports SD and HD channels in India. Live streaming of India vs China women's hockey World Cup match will be available on JioStar app and website.

India's confidence has also been strengthened by a series of encouraging performances over the past year. India won the FIH Nations Cup in New Zealand to return to the Pro League, in which drag-flicker Deepika rediscovered her scoring touch after recovering from injury, finishing the tournament with six goals.

Navneet has emerged as another key attacking weapon. She scored six goals during India's Asia Cup campaign and four at the World Cup qualifiers, where she was named the Player of the Tournament.

The game against China assumes added significance as the two teams will meet again at next month's Asian Games. India's best World Cup finish came at the inaugural edition in 1974, when the team led by Ajinder Kaur finished fourth. Having featured in only eight of the previous 15 editions, India will be looking to improve on their ninth-place finish from 2022.

Ranked ninth in the world, India will take on the second-ranked China, the Paris Olympic silver medallists, in a match that could set the tone for their campaign. A win upfront will help India in the longer run and take momentum.

A confident India face a stern opening test in the Women's FIH Hockey World Cup on Sunday as Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne's side takes on the Olympic silver medallists China, with a little room for error in a demanding Pool D contest.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the India women vs China women Pool D clash in the FIH World Cup 2026.