NEW DELHI: Hockey India on Monday named the 34-member core probable group for the senior women’s national coaching camp, scheduled to take place from November 22 to December 10 at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru, ahead of the five-nation Tournament Valencia 2023, set to take place between December 15, 2023, to December 22, 2023.
India, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and hosts Spain will be competing in the five-nation tournament in Valencia. It is a key step in the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s preparations for the all-important FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024 set to begin from January 13, 2023.
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team players will feel confident as they return to camp after a dominating performance at the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 earlier this month. India claimed the Gold medal defeating Japan 4-0 in the final. India also remained unbeaten in the tournament which also saw participation from China, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, as per a Hockey India press release.
The core group includes goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, and Bansari Solanki, while Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Jyoti Chhatri, and Mahima Chaudhary form the group of defenders. Nisha, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Monika, Mariana Kujur, Sonika, Neha, Baljeet Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, and Ajmina Kujur are the midfielders called up for the camp, while Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Sharmila Devi, Deepika, Sangita Kumari, Mumtaz Khan, Sunelita Toppo, and Beauty Dungdung form the forwards’ line-up.
Indian Women’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Janneke Schopman explained the importance of the upcoming camp. “We have been in good form over the past couple of months, with the Bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Gold medal in the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023. But it is important for us to continue to maintain our momentum and ensure we remain in the right frame of mind going into important competitions next year.”
“Our sights are set on the Paris Olympics and to ensure a spot, we have to perform well at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024. The five-nation tournament is a good chance for us to test ourselves against European teams and also plan our strategies and make modifications as and when needed. The National Coaching Camp will allow us to regroup once again and work on the areas where we still need to and provide us with a roadmap to ensure we achieve our immediate goals,” he added.
Indian Women’s Hockey Team 34-member Core Group:
GOALKEEPERS
1. Savita
2. Rajani Etimarpu
3. Bichu Devi Kharibam
4. Bansari Solanki
DEFENDERS
5. Deep Grace Ekka
6. Gurjit Kaur
7. Nikki Pradhan
8. Udita
9. Ishika Chaudhary
10. Akshata Abaso Dhekale
11. Jyoti Chhatri
12. Mahima Chaudhary
MIDFIELDERS
13. Nisha
14. Salima Tete
15. Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam
16. Jyoti
17. Navjot Kaur
18. Monika
19. Mariana Kujur
20. Sonika
21. Neha
22. Baljeet Kaur
23. Reena Khokhar
24. Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke
25. Ajmina Kujur
FORWARDS
26. Lalremsiami
27. Navneet Kaur
28. Vandana Katariya
29. Sharmila Devi
30. Deepika
31. Sangita Kumari
32. Mumtaz Khan
33. Sunelita Toppo
34. Beauty Dungdung. (ANI)