Veteran striker Vandana Kataria has been selected in India’s 24 -member women’s hockey team for the Bhubaneswar Charan of the FIH Pro League, while the young forward Sonam has also got a place as a standby. India are to play two times from England, Netherlands, Spain and Germany in the tournament to be held from 15 February. The Indian team will once again be commanded by Salima Tete while forward Navneet Kaur will be vice -captain.
Apart from Kataria outside the women’s Asian Champions Trophy team, veteran defender Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti Chhatri, midfielder Baljeet Kaur and Forward Mumtaz Khan and Rutuja Dadas are also in the team. Harendra Singh, head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, said, “The team has a good mixture of experienced and young players which is also necessary for the top level tournament. Our focus is on a balanced team that has strong options for every position. ”
Goalkeeper Banwari Solanki, defender Akshata Dhekale and Jyoti Singh, Forward Sakshi Rana, Annu and Sonam have been included as standby. Nineteen -year -old Sonam performed brilliantly in the Women’s Hockey India League and finished second in the list of players scoring the most goals. Harendra said, “We are sure about the preparations of the team and we believe it can perform brilliantly against the best teams in the world.”
According to FIH rules, if a team has more than four matches in any phase of Pro League, then a 24 -member team can be changed after the first four matches.
Indian Team:
Goalkeeper: Savita and Bichhu Devi Kharibam Defenders: Sushila Chanu, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary and Jyoti Chhatri Midfielder: Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Neha, Manisha Chauhan, Salima Tete, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiyami, Baljeet Kaur, Sharmila Devi. Forward: Navneet Kaur, Mumtaz Khan, Preeti Dubey, Rutuja Pisal, Beauty Dungdung, Sangeeta Kumari, Deepika and Vandana Kataria.