Hockey World Cup Qualifiers: India play 2-2 draw with Scotland, stay top of Pool B

The India women’s field hockey team played out a hard-fought 2–2 draw against the Scotland women’s field hockey team in their second Pool B match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Monday.

Despite the draw, India retained the top spot in Pool B with four points, edging Scotland on goal difference. Goals from Navneet Kaur (18’) and Sunelita Toppo were cancelled out by Scotland’s Heather McEwan (6’) and Fiona Burnet (33’).

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Scotland struck early after earning a penalty corner in the sixth minute, with McEwan guiding the ball into the net to give the visitors a 1–0 lead. India responded with sustained attacking pressure and created multiple opportunities but failed to convert, heading into the second quarter trailing by a goal.

India found their breakthrough in the 18th minute when Navneet Kaur capitalised on a loose ball following a penalty corner and smashed it past Scottish goalkeeper Jessica Buchanan to level the score. The hosts soon took the lead when Toppo reacted quickly to a rebound from a penalty corner in the 29th minute to make it 2–1 before halftime.

Scotland responded early in the third quarter, with Burnet finishing a well-worked passing move set up by McEwan in the 33rd minute to bring the scores level at 2–2.

The remainder of the match saw intense end-to-end action. India earned several penalty corners, including three consecutive chances in the third quarter and another late opportunity in the final minutes, but Buchanan produced a series of crucial saves to deny the hosts.

Despite a flurry of attacking chances late in the fourth quarter, neither side could find the decisive goal, and the match ended in a 2–2 stalemate.

India will next face Wales women’s national field hockey team on Wednesday at 7:30 PM IST.