Hyderabad, March 14, 2026: India captain Salima Tete completed 150 international caps for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team during the final against England at the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 in Hyderabad on Saturday. Hockey India congratulated the midfielder for reaching the milestone at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Ground in Gachibowli.
The 25 year old midfielder from Jharkhand achieved the landmark appearance while representing India in the tournament final. Known for her speed and tireless work in midfield, Salima has become a key figure in the national squad since making her debut.
Salima Tete made her international debut for India during the Test matches against Australia held in Melbourne in November 2016. Since then, she has grown into one of the most influential players in the team, contributing to attacking play and scoring 16 goals in her international career so far.
She became an Olympian at the age of 19 when she was part of the Indian team that finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The tournament marked a major moment in her career and helped establish her as a regular performer for the national side.
Salima was later named Rising Player of the Tournament at the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 in Muscat, where India finished third. She also captained India at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2021 in Potchefstroom, South Africa, where the team secured a fourth place finish.
During the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she scored a goal in the third place match against New Zealand, helping India secure the bronze medal through a penalty shootout. In the same year, she was also part of the team that won the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Spain 2022.
In 2023, Salima played a key role in India’s bronze medal campaign at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Later that year, she delivered a standout performance at the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023, scoring five goals in seven matches and winning the Player of the Tournament award.
Her leadership responsibilities increased in 2024 when she was appointed captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team. Under her captaincy, India won the gold medal at the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 and secured silver at the Women’s Asia Cup Gongshu 2025.
Salima’s achievements have also been recognised with several awards. She received the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year in 2021 and the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year in 2023. In 2024, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey congratulated Salima on reaching the milestone and said completing 150 international caps at a young age reflects her talent and commitment to Indian hockey. He added that her journey from Jharkhand to leading the national team is inspiring.
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also praised Salima, stating that her performances and leadership have made her an important player for the national team and that the milestone is a proud moment for Indian hockey.
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