New Delhi, Jan 12: Ace goalkeeper Savita Punia will lead India at the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup in Muscat as Hockey India on Wednesday named the 18-member squad.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 21 to 28. The top four teams from this event will qualify for the 2022 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup to be held in Spain and Netherlands.
The defending champions India will battle it out against China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand for the title. The Indian team features a formidable lineup with 16 players, who were part of the historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.
Punia has been named captain in the absence of Rani Rampal, who is undergoing rehabilitation in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, experienced defender Deep Grace Ekka has been chosen as the vice captain. The team includes goalkeeper Rajani Etimarpu and defenders Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, and Udita.
The midfield includes Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha, Salima Tete, Jyoti and Navjot Kaur, while the forwardline will see Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Mariana Kujur and Sharmila Devi.
The team also consists of Deepika (junior) and Ishika Chaudhary who will be the two replacement athletes for the event.
“This is a very important tournament for us and I am happy with the team we have chosen which is a mix of some very experienced players along with talented youngsters who have shown great potential at the international level,” said Janneke Schopman, the chief coach.
“Though we were a bit disappointed with how things panned out for us at the Asian Champions Trophy, we were able to return to camp in SAI, Bengaluru and put in some good sessions of hockey to prepare well for this challenge,” Schopman added.
The defending champions are grouped in Pool A along with Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. They will begin their campaign on opening day against Malaysia on January 21 and will play Japan on January 23.
India will take on Singapore in their last Pool A match on January 24. The semifinals will be played on January 26 and the final match on January 28.
In the previous edition held in 2017, India beat China 5-4 in a tense shootout to lift the title.
Squad- Goalkeepers: Savita (c), Rajani Etimarpu.
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (vc), Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita.
Midfielders: Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha, Salima Tete, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur.
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Mariana Kujur, Sharmila Devi.
