Savita Punia named captain of Indian women hockey team for Asia Cup in Muscat
Indian women are the defending champions at the continental event.
The Indian women’s hockey team, named by Hockey India, features 16 players who were part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the Indian eves finished fourth.
Regular skipper Rani Rampal will miss out as she is undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring injury in Bengaluru. Defender Deep Grace Ekka will be the vice-captain.
GurjitKaur and VandanaKatariya, who were India’s top goalscorers at Tokyo 2020, are also in the squad.
China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand are the seven other teams competing at the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2022.
India is drawn in Pool A with Japan, Malaysia and Singapore and will begin their campaign against Malaysia on January 21.
The top four countries will qualify for the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2022 to be held in Spain and the Netherlands later this year.
Indian squad will consist, Goalkeepers: Savita Punia (captain), Rajani Etimarpu
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (vice-captain), GurjitKaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita
Midfielders: Nisha, SushilaChanuPukhrambam, Monika, Neha, SalimaTete, Jyoti, NavjotKaur
Forwards: NavneetKaur, Lalremsiami, VandanaKatariya, Mariana Kujur, Sharmila Devi
Replacement players: Deepika, IshikaChaudhary.