Overview

• A 2-3 loss to China on June 29 sealed India’s eighth consecutive defeat in the FIH Pro League European leg.
• Sunelita Toppo put India ahead before Zhang Ying’s two penalty-corner goals and Xu Wenyu’s late strike turned the tide.
• India finished bottom of the nine-team standings with 10 points from 16 matches, triggering automatic relegation.
• Next season’s FIH Nations Cup and the Asia Cup will now determine India’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
• Coach Harendra Singh and analytical coach Dave Smolenaars face intensified scrutiny over penalty-corner lapses and tactical execution.