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Hockey World Cup: Sunelita, Navneet, Sushila score for India | IND 3-0 SA | The Local News
SUMMARYIndia vs South Africa Live Score, Hockey World Cup 2026: A hard-fought draw against one of the world's best teams has given India confidence, but the real test of their Women's Hockey World Cup campaign could come against South Africa today. India held world No.
4 and Olympic silver medallists China to a 2-2 draw in their opening Pool D game, earning a valuable point in their bid to finish among the top two. England lead the group after their 4-0 win over South Africa, while India and China sit level on one point.
The importance of Tuesday's fixture is heightened by the tournament format. The top two teams from each pool move into the second round, with results against a progressing team from the same pool carried forward.
India and China would therefore carry their one point each if both advance, while they would not meet again in that phase. A victory over 18th-ranked South Africa would give India a major boost before their final pool match and strengthen their qualification prospects.
However, coach Sjoerd Marijne has stressed the need for consistency after India allowed China back into the contest following a strong first half. " We scored a penalty corner and a field goal, but I'm not happy with the third quarter.
We need to work on ball possession and ball retention," Marijne said. India will hope Deepika, Navneet Kaur and their promising World Cup debutants can maintain the attacking momentum while avoiding complacency against a South African side under pressure after their heavy defeat to England.
Live Events19:32 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: 32' - WIDE!!! | IND 3-0 SAAnother quick attack from South Africa down the left flank, but the final effort flies wide of the Indian goal.
19:22 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: HT - India lead South Africa 3-0 at the halftime breakA superb quarter for India, who score twice in the second quarter to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the half-time break against South Africa. After Sunelita Toppo's 11th-minute strike put India ahead in the first quarter, Navneet Kaur and Sushila Chanu found the net in the second.
19:19 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: 29' - WIDE!!! | IND 3-0 SAExcellent solo run down the left flank from the South African striker, who cuts into the Indian circle before sending the final effort wide of the goal.
19:17 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: 27' - SAVE! | IND 3-0 SAAnother penalty corner for India, with Deepika stepping up for the drag-flick.
The South African goalkeeper produces another excellent save to keep the ball out. India are completely on top at the moment, piling on the pressure and dominating proceedings.
19:13 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: 25' - GOAL!!! | IND 3-0 SAIndia earn three consecutive penalty corners, and it’s third time lucky as they extend their lead to 3-0 after a scramble in front of the South African goal.
Deepika’s drag-flick deflects off the first rusher and falls kindly for Sushila, who gets a touch on the loose ball and sees her effort deflect off van Tonder and into the net. 19:11 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: 23' - Good run from South Africa | IND 2-0 SASouth Africa launch a couple of promising attacks into the Indian circle from the right flank.
They are unable to create a clear chance on goal, but it’s a positive passage of play from the South Africans. 19:04 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: 17' - GOAL!
| IND 2-0 SAIndia extend their lead early in the second quarter, making it 2-0 against South Africa. Navneet Kaur converts India’s second penalty corner with a superb strike.
It’s brilliantly executed — Navneet shifts the angle with a touch to her right before slapping the ball low and hard into the board, finding the gap between the goalkeeper and the defender on the line. 18:59 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: End of Q1 | IND 1-0 SAIshika Chaudhary is shown a green card, leaving India a player down for the next two minutes.
India head into the short break with a well-deserved 1-0 lead, thanks to Sunelita Toppo’s 11th-minute goal. 18:54 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: 11' - GOAL!
| IND 1-0 SAIndia strike with a field goal in the first quarter and take a 1-0 lead over South Africa. Sunelita Toppo taps in from close range after a scramble inside the South African circle.
It was a fortuitous goal, but India created the pressure with some excellent passing and sustained attacking play. Sakshi initially attempted a shot, but the ball dribbled through towards the far post, where Sunelita was perfectly placed to make no mistake with the simple tap-in.
A good reward for India's pressure. 18:50 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: 7' - MISSED!
| IND 0-0 SAIndia earn their first penalty corner of the game. A powerful drag-flick follows, but the South African goalkeeper makes a brilliant save to deny India.
18:47 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: 5' - MISSED! | IND 0-0 SASouth Africa earned a penalty corner on the counter-attack but failed to trap the ball cleanly, giving India a sigh of relief.
2' - India with the early push, moving into South Africa’s final third in the opening minutes. They have already penetrated the circle but concede a free hit.
18:38 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: Time for the national anthemsThe players from both teams are out in the middle, and it’s time for the national anthems. South Africa’s anthem will be followed by India’s, with both teams singing along with plenty of gusto.
18:31 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: ICYMI! India Starting XI and SubsIndia starting XI: Bichu Devi, Sushila Chanu, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary, Salima Tete, Neha Goyal, Sakshi Rana, Navneet Kaur, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso PisalSubstitutes: Savita Punia, Nikki Pradhan, Shilpi Dabas, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Deepika Sehrawat, Beauty Dung Dung18:22 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: India's Starting XI— TheHockeyIndia (@TheHockeyIndia) 18:07 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: Three points could strengthen India's qualification pushEngl and currently lead Pool D, while India and China are level on points after their opening-day draw, with South Africa yet to register a point.
The top two teams from each of the four pools will progress from the opening stage and remain in contention for the semi-finals, making every point valuable. A victory would give India a significant boost and put them in a stronger position ahead of their final pool fixture.
Navneet and Deepika's early form offers India an attacking threat, while their defensive resilience could prove equally important against a South African side desperate for a response. 17:56 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: Marijne warns against taking South Africa lightlySouth Africa enter today's contest under pressure after suffering a 0-4 defeat to England in their opening Pool D game.
However, Marijne has cautioned his players against judging their opponents solely by that result. The Indian coach expects a determined South African side with plenty to prove and has told his players to maintain their focus throughout the contest.
" Now we face South Africa, and I have told the girls not to take things lightly. so we need to be ready for that one," he said.
17:40 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: India coach Marijne ahead of the match— TheHockeyIndia (@TheHockeyIndia) 17:30 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: India seek to turn China draw into winning momentumThe draw against China showcased India's resilience and attacking intent, with Navneet Kaur and Deepika continuing their strong scoring form. India made an assured start and found the net early, but China responded twice to level the contest.
India's defensive organisation and composure under pressure ultimately helped them secure a point against one of the tournament's strongest teams. The performance has provided the side with confidence heading into the South Africa clash, but India will know that another draw would leave their qualification hopes more dependent on the final pool match.
17:20 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: Marijne asks India to ignore calculationsIndia head coach Sjoerd Marijne has urged his players to block out the qualification mathematics and focus entirely on their own strengths ahead of their second Pool D match against South Africa at the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 in Amstelveen today. India began their campaign with a spirited 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China, earning a valuable point but missing out on a chance to take all three.
With the top two teams from each pool advancing to the next stage, the pressure to collect a win is clear, but Marijne does not want his players distracted by the points table or other results." We are not focused on calculations or who is winning against whom.
For us, it's most important to focus on ourselves, focus on our strengths," Marijne said. " We created chances (against China).
That was something very positive. I think defensively we were very strong.
We need to work on double turnovers: winning the ball, keeping the ball. 17:18 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: South Africa under pressure but India wary of threatSouth Africa's 0-4 defeat to England has left them under immediate pressure, but India will be wary of treating today's contest as a straightforward assignment.
The South Africans will know that another defeat could severely damage their hopes of progressing, making them a potentially dangerous opponent. India, meanwhile, are seeking to build on a tournament-opening performance that showed both resilience and attacking promise.
Their best World Cup finish came at the inaugural edition in 1974, when they finished fourth under captain Ajinder Kaur. Their fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics under Marijne had raised expectations of another strong global campaign.
17:17 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: Possession and ball retention areas for improvementIndia's performance against China also highlighted areas that need attention. They made an impressive start, controlling the opening quarter and taking a 2-1 lead into half-time, but their intensity dropped after the break.
China began to dictate the third quarter as India sat deeper, eventually finding the equaliser. Drag-flicker Deepika converted a penalty corner and earned another, while World Cup debutants Sunelita Toppo, Ishika and Shilpi Dabas showed impressive composure.
Navneet Kaur, named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup Qualifiers, also carried her form into the opening game. " We scored a penalty corner and a field goal, but I'm not happy with the third quarter.
We need to work on ball possession and ball retention. 17:17 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: Marijne warns India against complacencyIndia coach Sjoerd Marijne has urged his players to maintain their momentum while keeping their focus firmly on their own performances rather than the pool standings.
The opening draw showed that India can compete with one of the world's strongest teams, but the coach knows that consistency will be crucial if they are to make a deep run. " We don't have to worry about the other teams' positions, but we need to maintain this momentum in the upcoming matches while avoiding complacency," Marijne said after the China game.
His message will be particularly important against South Africa, who will be desperate for a response after their heavy defeat to England. 17:16 (IST) Aug 18IND vs SA Hockey Live Score: Top-two finish remains India's immediate targetThe importance of today's contest goes beyond simply securing three points.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, where they will be divided into two groups of four teams each. Each side will then play the opponents they did not face in the opening phase.
Crucially, a team's result against the progressing team from its original pool will be carried forward. That means India and China will not meet again in the second round if both advance, while the point they earned from their opening draw will be carried forward.
17:15 (IST) Aug 18India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Live: India aim to build on confidence-boosting China drawHigh on confidence after holding Olympic silver medallists and world No. 4 China to a 2-2 draw in their opening match, India will look to strengthen their push for a top-two finish in Pool D when they face South Africa today.
Ranked ninth in the world, India produced a disciplined display against a fancied Chinese side to earn a valuable point and put themselves in a strong position to progress to the second round. England currently lead the pool after a 4-0 win over South Africa, with China and India next, while South Africa are fourth.
For India, a victory today would further strengthen their qualification prospects and provide momentum heading into their final pool game. India vs South Africa Live Score, Hockey World Cup 2026: India will look to turn the confidence gained from their impressive 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China into a winning result when they face South Africa in their second Pool D match at the Women's Hockey World Cup today.
Ranked ninth in the world, India showed discipline and composure against fourth-ranked China, earning a valuable point that could prove important in the second-round qualification race. England currently top Pool D after beating South Africa 4-0, while India and China have one point each.
With the top two teams from each pool advancing, India know a win against 18th-ranked South Africa would put them in a strong position ahead of their final pool match. The result could become even more significant because points earned against a team that progresses from the same pool are carried into the next phase.
Coach Sjoerd Marijne, however, has warned his players against complacency. India were impressive in the first half against China but dropped deeper after the break and allowed their opponents to regain control."
We don't have to worry about the other teams' positions, but we need to maintain this momentum in the upcoming matches while avoiding complacency," Marijne said. India will also look to improve their possession and ball retention while relying on the attacking form of Navneet Kaur and drag-flicker Deepika.
Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Met...
