The Indian women’s hockey team is set for an important international assignment as part of its preparation for the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26, scheduled to be held in Auckland, New Zealand from June 15 to June 21.
The FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup will be a crucial tournament for teams aiming to strengthen their global rankings and secure long-term competitive momentum in international hockey.
Tour to Australia Ahead of FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup
As part of their preparations for the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, Hockey India has confirmed that the women’s team will tour Australia from May 21 to June 3.
During this tour, India will play four matches against Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium between May 26 and May 30. These matches will help the team test combinations, improve match fitness, and fine-tune strategies before heading into the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup.
Focus on Final Preparations
After the Australia tour, the squad will travel to New Zealand for additional practice sessions and warm-up matches ahead of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26.
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The team enters this phase following a positive tour of Argentina earlier this year, where they secured two wins out of four matches, showing strong improvement and competitive spirit.
Special Training for Key Players
In a major development, selected players will also undergo a specialised drag-flick training clinic under Dutch hockey legend Taeke Taekema from May 26 to June 21 in Perth and Auckland.
This initiative is aimed at improving penalty corner conversion ahead of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, where set-piece execution will play a crucial role.
Coach Sjoerd Marijne on Nations Cup Preparation
Head coach Sjoerd Marijne highlighted that the tour is vital for assessing the team’s progress before the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup.
He emphasized that playing in Australia and New Zealand will help players adapt to similar weather and playing conditions expected during the tournament.
Importance of FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup
The FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26 is seen as a key opportunity for emerging and competitive national teams to establish themselves on the international stage.
For India, the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup represents a chance to build momentum, test squad depth, and compete against high-quality opposition ahead of future global tournaments.