Hockey India on Thursday announced the 24-member women’s team that will participate in the upcoming Belgium and England legs of the FIH Pro League 2023-24.
The Belgium leg will run from May 22nd to May 26th, followed by the England leg scheduled from June 1st to June 9th. India’s opponents include Argentina, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, and Germany, with matches against each team scheduled twice, starting their campaign against Argentina on May 22nd.
India is currently placed in 6th position, having eight points from eight matches.
Salima Tete, who recently received the esteemed Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year 2023 in the women’s category, will lead the team, with midfielder Navneet Kaur serving as her deputy.
The goalkeeping duties will be shouldered by Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam, while the defensive lineup comprises Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Monika, Jyoti Chhatri, and Mahima Chaudhary.
In the midfield, dynamic players such as Salima Tete, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Jyoti, Baljeet Kaur, Manisha Chauhan, and Lalremsiami will lead the charge. The forward line showcases the talents of Mumtaz Khan, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Sharmila Devi, Preeti Dubey, Vandana Katariya, Sunelita Toppo, and Deepika Soreng.
Expressing her happiness, captain Tete acknowledged the significant responsibility that comes with the role. She highlighted the strength of the squad, comprising a mix of experienced and young players, and talked about the team’s rigorous training regimen, focusing on areas for improvement to ensure they deliver strong performances.
Meanwhile, Kaur said that it is a surreal feeling to be named vice-captain of the Indian women’s hockey team. She expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 against quality opponents. Kaur exuded confidence in the team’s abilities and their prospects in the Europe leg of the Pro League. She also expressed her commitment to personal growth and improvement, reflecting on the high-intensity training camp they underwent in SAI.
(ANI)