India vs South Africa Hockey World Cup Highlights: IND thump SA 6-1

England currently lead Pool D following their 4-0 win over South Africa, with China and India next in the standings, while South Africa are fourth.

Sunelita Toppo, Navneet Kaur, Sushila Chanu, Deepika, Lalremsiami and Sakshi Rana scored a goal each to give India a 6-1 victory over South Africa in the Women’s Hockey World Cup group stage game. South Africa, meanwhile, managed to score a goal in the fourth quarter, thanks to Kayla de Waal. This is India’s biggest ever World Cup victory.

The Indian women’s hockey team was chasing a top-two finish in Pool D after holding Olympic silver medallists and world No. 4 China to a draw.

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England currently lead Pool D following their 4-0 win over South Africa, with China and India next in the standings, while South Africa are fourth. A win over South Africa can boost India’s chances. As per the tournament format, for the semifinal race the top two teams from each pool will be divided into two groups (E and F) of four teams each. Each team will play matches against the opponents they did not face in the first round.

“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,” coach Sjoerd Marijne said after the China game. India showed plenty of promise in their opening match. Drag-flicker Deepika converted a penalty corner and also earned another, while World Cup debutants Sunelita Toppo, Ishika and Shilpi Dabas displayed composure well beyond their experience. Navneet Kaur, who was named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup Qualifiers, has also carried her impressive form into the tournament and will be one of India’s key attacking threats.

The Indian team’s best finish at the World Cup 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 hopes of another strong showing on the global stage.

SCROLL DOWN FOR HIGHLIGHTS OF INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA HOCKEY WORLD CUP MATCH:

Live Updates
Aug 18, 2026 08:12 PM IST
India beat South Africa 6-1

India have their biggest ever World Cup victory after thumping South Africa 6-1 in the group stage. South Africa meanwhile managed to score their first goal of this tournament.

Full-time: INDIA 6-1 SOUTH AFRICA

Aug 18, 2026 08:09 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: Injury

We have a brief hold up after Shikha is left bleeding from her forehead when the stick from a South African attacker catches her on the head. She walks off holding a cloth to her bleeding head.

Aug 18, 2026 08:03 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: South Africa score

South Africa deny India a clean sheet with a goal from a penalty corner! this is South Africa's first goal in the World Cup after they were swept 4-0 by England in their opener! The ball was turned in by Kayla de Waal, and India appealed. But after review, the goal is given!

India were warned to get in position quickly by the umps after one player could not find her helmet in the penalty corner.

Aug 18, 2026 07:59 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE:

A quiet fourth quarter so far! No clear chances and after scoring six goals in three quarters the Indians are just gently easing their foot off the accelerator.

Seven minutes left of the game to end. Can India score a seventh goal? Can South Africa score their first?

Aug 18, 2026 07:48 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: GOAL!

Sakshi scores India's sixth goal with 40 seconds left for the end of third quarter! India came from the right flank, before a shot thudded against the upright! The ball then came to Sakshi, who reverse hits the ball into the goal! And right after we have the end of third quarter!

India lead 6-0 against South Africa at the end against South Africa

Aug 18, 2026 07:46 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: GOAL!

India make it five goals! It's Lalremsiami whose backhanded slap of the ball from the edge of the D flies past the keeper into the net! Breathless hockey from India!!

India lead 5-0 and we are still in the third quarter.

Aug 18, 2026 07:40 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: GOAL!

DEEPIKA SCORES! A shot with the reverse stick that flies past the South African defence for India's fourth goal! India really turning the screws here! And it's starting to rain at the stadium! It's also -- pardon the cliche -- raining goals here!

India lead 4-0 in the third quarter

Aug 18, 2026 07:39 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: SAVE!

Navneet almost scores again but a leg from Marlise van Tonder saves the shot! India eased into the circles with four pinpoint passes in a row before the ball came to Navneet!

India lead 3-0 in the third quarter

Aug 18, 2026 07:20 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: CHANCE

What a run from Ntsopa Mokoena! She bursts past the Indian midfield before taking a shot that flies over the crossbar!

And right afterwards, the hooter goes off for half-time!

INDIA 3-0 SOUTH AFRICA

Aug 18, 2026 07:16 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: GOAL!

Another goal! Scrappy, but India won't care how that goal came! India have a great chance from a penalty corner where, despite a terrible trap, the ball is sent pinballing in the circle, too many chances in that few seconds for India to score their third goal. But the ball finally hits a South African leg for a penalty corner. This this the ball is trapped cleanly, and then the ball is turned past the keeper for a goal!

India lead 3-0 in the second quarter!

Aug 18, 2026 07:13 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: CHANCE

Onthatile Zulu with the run of the game! She goes on a lung-bursting run down the right flank before turning towards the goal and finding a teammate with the cross. The ball is squandered from there. But what a run!

IND 2-0 SA

Aug 18, 2026 07:04 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: GOAL!

What a goal for India! If the first one was a soft one, the second one is a cracker! India have a penalty corner, and Navneet Kaur sends a rasping shot that flies past the line-stop and the goalkeeper. Both of them can just watch and wave their sticks at empty air!

India lead 2-0 in the second quarter

Aug 18, 2026 06:59 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: CARD FOR INDIA

A green card for defender Ishika Chaudhary for body-blocking a South African runner! And with barely a minute left for the end of first quarter, she will head to the bench for two minutes and India will down to 10 women.

And India manage to play out the one minute without too much trouble.

At the end of the first quarter, IND 1-0 SA

Aug 18, 2026 06:57 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: GOAL!

An easy goal for India to take a 1-0 lead! They came in from the left flank and almost all 22 players are in the South African circle. The ball is passed towards the goal by Sakshi Rana before Sunelita Toppo turns the ball in past Marlise van Tonder.

A soft goal, and while they were down to 10 players. But India are 1-0 up with end of first quarter approaching.

Aug 18, 2026 06:51 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: PC for India!

Now India have a penalty corner and the drag flick on the goalkeeper's right is saved by a diving Marlise van Tonder. India almost make it 1-0.

First quarter: IND 0-0 SA

Aug 18, 2026 06:50 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: SAVE!

India keeper Bichu Devi pulls off a save after a run from the left flank from the South African forward. The Indian defence just parted as the South African forward came into the circle like she was running on an empty street. Finally, the ball hits the leg of an Indian defender and there's a penalty corner awarded for South Africa.

But the South Africans mis-trap and cannot take another shot on goal!

First quarter: IND 0-0 SA

Aug 18, 2026 06:43 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: Pushback!

here we go! A fast and furious start from the Indian team. They are known for their high-tempo game anyway. But Indian in this mood is going to be a handful for the South Africans to contain!

First quarter, 2 minutes: IND 0-0 SA

Aug 18, 2026 06:37 PM IST
Hockey World Cup, India vs South Africa LIVE: here we go

Both teams are lining up for the national anthems. We have a tantalising game ahead of us! The South African side are playing in their dark green kits while the Indians are in their saffron kits that caused so much controversy before the tournament.

An important game for Sjoerd Marijne's girls after their game 1 draw with China.

Aug 18, 2026 06:28 PM IST
HOLA

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the India vs South Africa game from the Hockey World Cup.

Making of Navneet Kaur: From a cricket-loving home to India’s World Cup spark

If Navneet Kaur had grown up anywhere other than Shahbad, she might never have become a hockey player.

Cricket dominated her home. Her father was an avid follower of the sport, and one of her earliest sporting idols was India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. But growing up in Shahbad — the small Haryana town that has produced an assembly line of international hockey players — made a different future almost inevitable.

In Shahbad, hockey isn’t a sport children discover. It’s the sport that finds them. “My father wanted me to play cricket; he likes the sport a lot. But where I grew up in Shahbad, everyone played hockey. I thought, ‘Okay, there’s no cricket here, but if you want to go into sports, then try hockey’,” Navneet told The Indian Express from Amsterdam.

She had another, more compelling reason: coach Baldev Singh, who was conferred the Padma Shri this year. “He has created many excellent international players. So that’s why I started playing hockey,” she said.

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