India and New Zealand are celebrating 100 years of sporting relations in 2026, marking a century of sports diplomacy and people-to-people connections. The sporting relationship began in 1926, when the Indian Army Hockey Team became the first Indian sports team to tour New Zealand. The centenary celebrates the enduring role of sports especially hockey in strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to New Zealand (the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years), both countries further strengthened sports cooperation through a “Sports Joint Action Plan“.
India–New Zealand: 100 Years of Sporting Relations
Background
- 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of sporting ties between India and New Zealand.
- The relationship began in 1926, when the Indian Army Hockey Team toured New Zealand.
- It was the first overseas sporting tour by an Indian team, laying the foundation for long-term sports cooperation.
Historic Role of Major Dhyan Chand
- The legendary Major Dhyan Chand was a member of the historic 1926 Indian Army Hockey Team.
- The tour became one of the most memorable chapters in Indian hockey history.
- His participation continues to symbolize the sporting friendship between the two nations.
Recent Highlights
Hockey
- Hockey remains the strongest pillar of India–New Zealand sporting relations.
- Earlier in 2026, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team won the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland by defeating host New Zealand in the final.
- The victory further strengthened sporting goodwill between the two countries.
Rugby Cooperation
- In May 2026, Rugby India and New Zealand Rugby jointly organized a high-performance coaching clinic at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
- The two-day programme was conducted under a broader inter-governmental Memorandum.
- Elite New Zealand coaches trained 34 Indian coaches across:
- Foundation coaching
- Development pathways
- High-performance coaching
Sports Joint Action Plan
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to New Zealand, both countries signed a Sports Joint Action Plan to institutionalize sports cooperation.
Key Areas of Cooperation
- High-performance athlete training
- Coaching exchanges
- Sports science
- Sports analytics
- Business-to-business sports collaboration
- Structured exchanges between national sports federations
- Capacity building and knowledge sharing