NEW DELHI: Hockey India has announced a Rs 50 lakh cash reward for the Indian women’s hockey team after their impressive fifth-place finish at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen. The reward comes after India recorded their best finish at the World Cup in 52 years, underlining the progress made by the team during the tournament.
India finish fifth after beating Germany
Led by captain Salima Tete, India signed off their campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over world No. 5 Germany in the classification match to secure fifth place. The result marked India’s second-best finish in World Cup history. Their only better performance came at the inaugural edition in 1974, when they finished fourth.India’s latest campaign was particularly notable for their consistency against some of the world’s leading teams.
One defeat throughout the tournament
Under chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, India suffered only one defeat during the competition. The team held strong sides including China, England and Australia to draws, while producing an emphatic 6-1 victory over South Africa.Hockey India’s reward package will be shared between the players and support staff. Each member of the playing squad will receive Rs 2 lakh, while members of the support staff will be awarded Rs 1 lakh each.Congratulating the team on the achievement, Hockey India president Padma Dr Dilip Tirkey said, “This is a historic result for Indian women’s hockey. To finish fifth at a World Cup after 52 years is a testament to the hard work, resilience and fighting spirit this team has shown throughout the tournament. On behalf of Hockey India, I am pleased to announce a cash award of Rs 50 lakh for the team as a token of our appreciation, and I hope this inspires the players to keep raising the bar.“Reflecting the president’s sentiments, Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said, “Salima and her team have done the country proud with a campaign that saw them compete with, and hold their own against, some of the best sides in the world. This announcement is our way of recognising their commitment and hard work, and we hope it further motivates the team as they turn their focus towards the Asian Games.”
