Hockey India (HI) on Sunday announced the Indian squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, which will take place in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14.
This will be the Indian women’s hockey team’s first assignment under Sjoerd Marijne, who has returned as the chief coach effective January 2026, replacing Harendra Singh.
Midfielder Salima Tete will lead the 18-member side at the Qualifiers, an important set of fixtures ahead of the Asian Games 2026, and upcoming major competitions in the Olympic cycle.
“The aim is to qualify for Los Angeles, and for me it’s a very nice and big challenge,” Marijne said at a virtual press conference last month. “It’s about tournament to tournament. Everybody deserves to play the Asian Games and World Cup, but I need to first identify the best from the qualifiers.”
Having failed to qualify through the Asia Cup, India will bank on the World Cup qualifiers to seal their place in the mega-event.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi Kharibam.
Defenders: Sushila Chanu, Nikki Pradhan, Manisha Chauhan, Uditam Ishika Chaudhary.
Midfielders: Neha, Salima Tete (C), Sunelita Toppo, Sakishi Rana, Vaishnavi Ohalke, Rutaja Pisal, Deepika Soreng.
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Ishika, Lalremsiami, Beauty Dungdung, Balneet Kaur, Annu.
Published on Mar 01, 2026
