India defeated New Zealand 2-0 in the final of the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup in Auckland, securing their second title in the tournament's history and a return to the FIH Hockey Women's Pro League.
Goals and Early Dominance
Navneet Kaur opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a powerful penalty corner conversion. Sunelita Toppo doubled the lead in the 15th minute, deflecting a shot from Deepika during another penalty corner. India maintained a disciplined defensive structure throughout the match, with goalkeeper Savita making crucial saves, including a penalty corner stop in the fourth quarter.
Unbeaten Campaign
India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. In Pool A, they defeated USA 3-2, Japan 2-1, and Uruguay 3-2. They then registered a commanding 6-0 win over Chile in the semi-final. Deepika finished as joint-top scorer with six goals, sharing the honor with USA's Ashley Sessa. Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match for the final.
Recognition and Rewards
Hockey India announced a cash award of INR 3 lakh for each player and INR 1.5 lakh for each support staff member in recognition of the team's achievement. This is India's second Nations Cup title, having previously won the inaugural edition in 2022.
