Indian women hockey team named for the Champions Challenge I: Hockey Update
Hockey India (HI) has named the national women squad yesterday, on June 2 that will play the upcoming Champions Challenge I to take place in Dublin, Ireland from June 18-26.
The team's captain selected for the Irish tour is Saba Anjum, an Indian striker, due to the non-availability of Surinder Kaur, the usual captain. Kaur has chosen to skip the tournament because of some personal reasons.
In addition to this, another key national player, Mamta Kharab, was not the part of the squad announced, due to her last year’s knee injury. Even though, she was one of the probables announced for the tour, but did not qualify among the final eighteen selected.
Saba Anjum will be assisted by the vice-captain Jasjeet Handa. Among the 18 selected, seven are forwards namely Saba Anjum, Chanchan Devi, Rani Rampal, Soundarya Yendala, Anuradha Devi, Jasjeet Kaur Handa and Poonam; six are midfielders namely Roselind Ralte,
Asunta Lakra, Deepika Thakur, Kirandeep Kaur and Mukta Prava Barla; three were defenders Joydeep Kaur, Jaspreet Kaur and Preeti Sunila Kiro whereas two were goal-keepers Yogita Bali and Sarita.
Apart from these, four more names were announced as the stand-bys in case of any injuries at the international event. These are E Rajini for goal-keeping, Vaishali Sul as defender and Rashmi Singh and Roselin Dung as forwards.
HI’s selection committee that announced the women national team comprised of Syed Ali, B P Govinda, Rekha Bhide, Rajbir Kaur and Sita Mehta. Moreover, two government observers, Harbinder Singh and Dilip Tirkey, were also present at the recent trials after
which the final eighteen were selected.
India made it into the Champions Challenge I after winning the 2009’s FIH Champions Challenge II that was held at Kazan, Russia.
In this eight-nation championship, the teams have been divided into two pools A and B and India is in Pool B, accompanied by Spain, Azerbaijan and host team Ireland. On the other hand, Pool A comprises of Japan, United States, South Africa and Scotland.
On June 18, the Indian women will be playing their first match against Ireland.
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