India’s women’s hockey team crashed out of the Hockey World Cup after a goalless draw against Australia in Amstelveen, with Australia advancing to the semi-finals on goals scored.

Tokyo 2020. Olympic quarter-final. Australia arrived unbeaten and as favourites. India stunned them 1-0 to reach their first-ever Olympic semi-final.

Five years later, it was the same opponent, the same high-stakes battle and another semi-final within reach. But there was no repeat of the Tokyo magic.

Earlier, the Netherlands’ 4-1 win over China had kept India’s hopes alive, while China were eliminated. Going into the final clash, India needed an outright win to progress, whereas Australia only needed to avoid defeat. In the end, neither side could find a breakthrough.

The draw left India and Australia level on two points with identical -2 goal differences, but Australia advanced after scoring three goals to India’s two.

India’s wait for a World Cup semi-final continues, dating back to their fourth-place finish at the inaugural edition in Mandelieu, France, in 1974.

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