FIH Pro League: Indian women’s hockey team eyes a new start, Vandana Kataria returns
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After missing out on a place in the Paris Olympics Savita Poonia The upcoming 24-member Indian women’s hockey team led by FIH Pro League Will try to make a fresh start in the match. Vandana Kataria has returned to the team as vice captain after recovering from fracture (cheekbone). Due to this fracture, she could not play in the Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi earlier this month. The Indian team’s performance in Ranchi was disappointing due to which it missed a place in the Olympics, although the team had qualified in the last two stages. In fact, the team stood fourth in the Tokyo Olympics.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT
Here’s our Women’s Team squad for FIH Pro League, 2024 starting from 3rd February.
Games will be played at two venues in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
India will face China, Netherlands, Australia and USA.
More updates of FIH Pro League to follow soon.… pic.twitter.com/xjanviBqBK
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 27, 2024
Pro league will be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela
The Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Pro League will run from February 3 to 9, while the Rourkela leg will run from February 12 to 18. India will face America, Netherlands, China and Australia twice each in both the phases. The Indian team will start its campaign on February 3 against the current Asiad champion China. The team may have failed to make it to the Paris Olympics but the Hockey India selectors decided to stick with the core group playing in Ranchi.
Six new players were included in the team
To strengthen the team, six more players (junior and senior) were included. Dragflicker Gurjit Kaur and young Jyoti Chhatri have been included in the Indian backline. The responsibility of goalkeeping will be performed by Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam. Sunelita Toppo is a new face in midfield. The return of experienced Vandana and Sharmila Devi will strengthen the Indian attack. Young player Mumtaz Khan is a new face in the Indian front line.
Coach Yanek Shopman said this
Indian women’s team head coach Yanek Shopman said, ‘We have some young players for the FIH Pro League 2023-24. This league is very important for us because the champion team will secure its place in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. There were speculations that India would change its coach after the defeat in the Olympic qualifiers, but Hockey India has kept faith in Shopman.
Indian women’s hockey team
Goalkeeper: Savita (Captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam.
Defender: Gurjeet Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Monica, Jyoti Chhatri.
Midfielder: Nisha, Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke, Neha, Navneet Kaur, Salima Tete, Sonika, Jyoti, Baljeet Kaur, Sunelita Toppo.
Forward : Mumtaz Khan, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami, Sangeeta Kumari, Deepika, Vandana Kataria (Vice Captain), Sharmila Devi.
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