Hockey India rewards women’s team with Rs 50 lakh after historic World Cup finish
In a remarkable achievement, Hockey India has granted fifty lakh rupees to the women's team following their impressive fifth-place finish in the World Cup, their best in fifty-two years. The team successfully defeated Germany in their concluding match and only faced one defeat during the tournament. This honor not only rewards their dedication but also motivates them for future challenges.
New Delhi: The Indian women's hockey team has been awarded a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh by Hockey India following their impressive fifth-place finish at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen. This honor comes after India's best-ever performance at the World Cup in 52 years, highlighting the team's progress throughout the tournament.
Led by captain Salima Tete, India secured their position with a 3-1 victory over world No. 5 Germany in the classification match, marking their second-best World Cup finish behind their 1974 fourth-place result.
Throughout the tournament, India demonstrated remarkable consistency against top teams like China, England, and Australia, drawing with them and emerging victorious in decisive matches, including a convincing 6-1 win over South Africa. Coach Sjoerd Marijne's leadership was instrumental in maintaining this level of performance. The reward package, shared between the players and support staff, includes a Rs 2 lakh stipend for each player and a Rs 1 lakh award for each member of the support team.
Hockey India president Padma Dr Dilip Tirkey praised the team, acknowledging their historic achievement and commending their hard work and resilience. The Rs 50 lakh reward is intended as a token of appreciation for the team's efforts and to inspire them to continue raising the bar in the sport. Secretary general Bhola Nath Singh echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Salima Tete's leadership and the team's remarkable ability to compete with and hold their own against the world's best teams.
This acknowledgment serves as motivation for the team as they shift their focus towards the upcoming Asian Games.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- ‘People don’t know the real story’: India hockey coach on pre-World Cup leave timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- How Sjoerd Marijne led India to their best Women’s Hockey World Cup finish in 52 years indianexpress.com
