The Indian women's hockey team began their Hockey World Cup campaign on Sunday with a spirited performance, holding the Paris Olympics silver medallists, China, to a 2-2 draw. In what was arguably their most difficult Pool D fixture at the Wagener Hockey Stadium, the Indian side proved they could compete with the world's best, leading twice during the encounter.

Young squad holds Olympic silver medallists

The result carries extra weight because the Indian squad featured 11 players making their World Cup debut. Head coach Sjoerd Marijne was quick to point out the significance for the future of the program. He stated, "With 11 debutants in the team, a draw against the world No. number four is very good for the future".

India dominated the opening quarter, with Navneet Kaur providing the first breakthrough in the eighth minute after a clinical field goal. Though China equalised through a penalty stroke by Zhang Ying, India reclaimed the lead in the 26th minute when Deepika scored from a penalty corner. Player of the Match Navneet Kaur reflected on the performance, saying, "It was a tough match but we did exceptionally well. We were leading twice and we have to do better in maintaining the lead". She noted that the team intentionally ignored the reputation of their opponents: "Our past performance against them (China) was not good but we did not think about them today and forgot that they are Olympic medallists. That worked well".

Refereeing decisions and the missed penalty corner

The match was not without controversy, particularly a late incident where India felt they were denied a crucial penalty corner. Coach Marijne expressed his frustration clearly: "I dont know why that PC was not given". Because India had already exhausted their video referral earlier in the match, they could not challenge the decision.

Marijne explained the situation with the officials, saying, "We had a clear PC but the referee was at an angle where she couldn't see it and you really can't blame her. We really need to learn about the video referrals". Despite the late drama, he remained pragmatic: "I am satisfied, but the result could have been different if we had got the PC in the end. I don't want to talk about the referee's decision. That's the way it is and we have to deal with it".

Evolution from Asian Games heartbreak to World Cup grit

This 2-2 draw marks a massive shift in trajectory for the Indian side. Former captain Viren Rasquinha noted the contrast between this performance and the 0-4 loss India suffered against China in the 2023 Asian Games semi-final. Rasquinha shared on X, "It has been a brilliant first match for India vs China. When we last played China in a major competition, it was the SF of the last Asian Games 2023 where we lost 0-4. We were miles behind them. The women have massively improved on their skill, strategy and especially fitness".

While India felt they could have won, Rasquinha urged fans to appreciate the effort. "India will be slightly disappointed with the result that we did not get 3 points vs China after leading twice. But the women should be proud of a classy performance vs the Olympic medallists - fighting hard, tireless running, skilful when needed. Went toe to toe with China". This resilience was tested in the third quarter when China’s Ma Ning levelled the score. Marijne admitted, "The third quarter was not that good but then we came back. The resilience of the team was good and I am happy with that. We did much better in the last quarter".

Strategic depth and the road ahead

The draw also showcased a more balanced attacking threat. While many expected the team to rely heavily on drag-flicker Deepika, Marijne was pleased to see others step up. "Everyone was talking about Deepika during the Nations Cup but Navneet scored equally well and in the World Cup qualifiers too. So it's not only about Deepika," he said. Defensively, the team relied on the experience of Savita, who was playing her 314th international match and made several critical saves to keep China at bay.

Looking forward, the draw provides a tactical cushion for the remaining group games. Marijne remarked, "It is a very important draw. If we had lost this one, the next two would have been must-win matches. Now we don't have to do much calculations about who is winning against whom and we can focus on our own game". He added that this focus is consistent with his approach: "That's what we have been doing so far since I came back".

Captain Salima Tete echoed this sentiment, stating, "We are happy with the one point but we will have to fight in every match and we are geared up for that". India faces South Africa on August 18, and the team remains cautious. Marijne warned, "South Africa is a good team and we have to be at our best against them too". To secure a win, the coach identified one key area for growth: "We created chances, defensively we were very strong but we have to do better in winning the ball and keeping the ball".

For the debutants, the senior players provided a simple message to navigate the pressure. Navneet Kaur shared their mantra: "We told youngsters to keep the belief and do not worry about the mighty China". With one point in the bag, India now sits level with China in Pool D, trailing England who defeated South Africa 4-0.