India on Saturday, 21 May selected a 24-member women’s hockey team for the European leg of the FIH Pro League games to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium in June. The team will be captained by 31-year-old Savita Punia, born in Sirsa.
The team will play six matches from June 11 to 22 ahead of the Women’s World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Spain from July 1 to 17.
The Women in Blue are set to play hosts Belgium in Antwerp on June 11 and 12, after which they will move to Rotterdam to lock horns with Argentina on June 18 and 19. Thereafter, Punia & Co & Co will face USA on June. 21 and 22.
Punia will continue to lead the team even after a possible return following striker Rani Rampal’s last appearance at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
Earlier, Rani was suffering from a hamstring injury after which she was rehabilitated. She was earlier named in the Indian squad for the last two matches of the Pro League against the Netherlands in Bhubaneswar, but failed to participate.
Veteran defender Deep Grace Ekka has been named the vice-captain of the team. The team also includes World Cup stars like Ishika Choudhary, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Baljit Kaur, Akshata Abso Dhakale, Sangeeta Kumari and Deepika.
Rajni Etimarpu, Mahima Choudhary and Rajwinder Kaur have been named as standbys.
Speaking about the team, head coach Janke Schopmann said, “This is going to be a very important phase of the Pro League matches in Europe as it will give us an insight into our progress ahead of the World Cup in July.
“These matches are also going to be important in finalizing our team for the World Cup,” Schopman said.
The Indian team is currently second in the standings behind Argentina with 22 points from eight matches with four wins, three draws and one loss.
team india
Goalkeepers: Savita (Captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (Vice-Captain), Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Choudhary, Akshata Abso Dhakale
Midfielders: Nisha, Sushila Chanu, Pukhrambam, Monica, Neha, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Sonika, Salima Tete, Baljit Kaur
Forwards: Vandana Kataria, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi, Sangeeta Kumari, Deepika, Rani.