India Eliminated from Hockey World Cup Semi-Final Race After Argentina Defeat
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
AMSTELVEEN: India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 ended on Monday after Argentina defeated them 5-3 in their final Pool E match at Wagener Hockey Stadium.
India, who last reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1975, will now compete in the seventh-eighth place classification match against Belgium on Friday.
Sukhjeet Singh scored twice for India, while Hardik Singh added another goal through a late penalty stroke. Argentina’s goals came from Joaquin Toscani, Nicolas della Torre, Tomas Domene, who scored twice, and Lucas Toscani.
Argentina Make Fast Start
India entered the match needing a convincing victory over Argentina, while also hoping the Netherlands would defeat England in the other Pool E fixture.
Argentina quickly took control, scoring twice within the opening six minutes.
Joaquin Toscani opened the scoring in the first minute before Nicolas della Torre converted a penalty corner to put Argentina 2-0 ahead.
India responded in the 10th minute when Sukhjeet Singh finished a well-built attacking move to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Neither team added to the score during the second quarter, leaving Argentina ahead at halftime.
Argentina Extend Their Lead
Argentina restored their two-goal advantage three minutes after the restart when Tomas Domene completed a quick attacking move following a turnover in midfield.
India earned several penalty corners but struggled to convert their opportunities.
Domene scored again from a penalty stroke in the 45th minute, giving Argentina a 4-1 lead heading into the final quarter.
Lucas Toscani then extended Argentina’s advantage to 5-1 in the 53rd minute with a powerful strike.
India Launch Late Comeback
India produced a late response.
Sukhjeet scored his second goal of the match in the 58th minute after getting a deflection onto a cross from Mandeep Singh.
India then earned a penalty stroke, which Hardik Singh converted to make the score 5-3.
The Indian team had one final opportunity from a penalty corner before the final hooter, but Argentina goalkeeper Tomas Santiago made the save to secure the victory.
India to Play Belgium
The defeat confirmed India’s elimination from the semi-final race. India had also lost 3-1 to the Netherlands in their previous Pool E match.
India reached the second round after finishing second in Pool D. They defeated Wales 3-1 and Pakistan 5-3, while losing 4-2 to England.
India’s best World Cup performance remains their 1975 title-winning campaign in Kuala Lumpur, which was also the last occasion when the men’s team reached the tournament semi-finals.
At the 2023 World Cup, India finished ninth after failing to advance to the quarter-finals.
The Indian team will now look to finish the 2026 tournament strongly when it faces Belgium in the seventh-eighth place match on Friday.
