18-member Indian women's hockey squad announced for FIH Champions Challenge

Indian women’s team announced for Champions Challenge

Hockey India has announced an 18-member Indian women’s hockey squad for the FIH Champions Challenge, an eight-nation tournament to be played in Glasgow, Scotland. The Indian team will play their first match against Korea on April 27th, 2014.

The tournament consists of two pools and India are grouped in Pool A along with Korea, Belgium and Scotland. Pool B consists of the USA, South Africa, Spain and Ireland.

Before this major tournament, India will play a three-match test series against Ireland from April 10th, 2014 in Ireland. This will serve as a practice series for the team ahead of the Champions Challenge.

The squad has been selected basis the selection trials conducted at the NSNIS Patiala on March 27. Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Mamta Kharab Dahiya and Surinder Kaur along with Roelant Oltmans, Director High Performance, Neil Hawgood, chief coach of the women’s team, and Scientific Advisor Matthew Tredrea were invloved in selection panel.

The squad selected is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Yogita Bali, Savita

Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Deepika, Sunita Lakra, Kirandeep Kaur, Namita Toppo, Monika Malik

Midfielders: Sushila Chanu, Ritu Rani (captain), Lily Chanu, Chanchan Devi (vice-captain), Soundarya Yendala

Forwards: Anuradha Devi, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur, Neha Goyal