Indian women’s hockey has gone through generations of change, but some players have remained constant through the transition. Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam is one of them.
More than a decade after making her senior international debut in 2012, the Manipuri star is still preparing for another major chapter with India. At 34, Chanu has earned her place in the squad for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026, where India will begin their campaign against China on August 16 in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
A career built on longevity and leadership
Chanu’s journey began at the junior level, where she captained India to a bronze medal at the 2013 Women’s Junior World Cup. That success helped establish her as a player capable of handling responsibility early in her career.
Her senior career soon took her to the biggest stages in international hockey. She represented India at the 2014 and 2022 Asian Games, winning bronze medals on both occasions. She was also part of India’s Commonwealth Games campaigns and helped the team win bronze at Birmingham 2022.
But perhaps her most significant leadership moment came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when she captained India as the women’s team returned to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1980.
The Rio experience was followed by another memorable Olympic campaign at Tokyo 2020, where India produced a historic run and finished fourth. Chanu’s defensive contribution and composure were particularly valuable during the tournament, including the famous quarter-final victory over Australia.
The numbers that explain her importance
Chanu’s longevity is perhaps best understood through her international appearances.
Senior international debut: 2012
International caps: 250 reached in February 2025; Hockey India’s current profile lists 262 caps
International goals: 6
Olympic Games: Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020
Olympic highlight: India’s fourth-place finish at Tokyo 2020
Junior World Cup: Bronze, 2013
Asian Games: Bronze, 2014 and 2022
Commonwealth Games: Bronze, 2022
Asia Cup: Gold, 2017
Nations Cup: Gold, 2022
Asian Champions Trophy: Gold, 2024
Arjuna Award: 2023
Her 250th international cap, achieved against Germany in the FIH Hockey Pro League in Bhubaneswar in February 2025, was another landmark in a career defined by consistency.
A comeback that underlines her value
Chanu’s recent journey has not been without setbacks. A knee injury and subsequent surgery forced her to miss important periods of India’s 2025 campaign. Her absence was felt in the defensive unit, with then-coach Harendra Singh specifically identifying the unavailability of experienced defenders as one of the team’s problems.
Instead of marking the end of her international journey, however, the setback became another test of her resilience.
She returned to the national setup in 2026 and played an important role during the World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad. In India’s 1-0 win over Italy, Chanu was named Player of the Match, helping India secure a place at the World Cup.
That performance was particularly significant because it showed that her value is not simply based on experience or reputation. Even after more than a decade at international level, Chanu remains capable of delivering when the pressure is highest.
Another World Cup, another opportunity
India’s qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup gives Chanu another opportunity to add to an already remarkable international career.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30, 2026. India have been placed in Pool D alongside China, South Africa and England.
Chanu is part of a defensive group that also includes Ishika Chaudhary, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti and Shilpi Dabas. While captain Salima Tete represents the newer generation of leadership, Chanu provides the squad with something equally important: experience earned over years of competing against the world’s best.
The bigger story behind Sushila Chanu
Chanu’s story is bigger than medals and caps.
She belongs to a generation that helped Indian women’s hockey move from sporadic appearances on the biggest stages to becoming a regular contender in international tournaments. She has played under different coaches, alongside different generations of players and through both breakthrough moments and difficult periods.
Now, as India prepares for another World Cup, she represents the bridge between those eras.
At a time when young players are being introduced into the national setup, Chanu’s role is no longer only about what she can produce on the field. Her understanding of international hockey, ability to handle pressure and experience of major tournaments make her an important reference point for the players coming through.
For a player who first wore India’s senior colours in 2012, reaching another World Cup in 2026 is remarkable in itself.
And perhaps that is the most fitting description of Sushila Chanu’s career: not a story about staying at the top by standing still, but about repeatedly finding a way to remain relevant as the game around her changes.
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