2024-05-02 19:24:35
New Delhi: Midfielder Salima Tete has been named captain of India’s 24-member women’s hockey team for the Belgium and England leg of the FIH Pro League later this month, replacing experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia. Navneet Kaur has been made the vice-captain. Salima said, ‘I am happy that I have been given the captaincy of the team. This is a big responsibility and I am excited about it. We have a strong team which has experienced and young players.
He said, ‘We will give our best performance in the upcoming Belgium and England stages of the FIH Pro League. We have to overcome our weaknesses. Savita was the captain of India in the Olympic qualifiers and subsequent Pro League matches. The matches in Belgium will be held from 22 to 26 May and in England from 1 to 9 June. India will face Argentina and Belgium twice in the first leg. The team will play Britain and Germany in the London phase.
India is currently ranked sixth in the Pro League table. Salima recently received the Balbir Singh Sr. Female Player of the Year Award at the Hockey India Annual Awards.
Indian women’s team
Goalkeeper: Savita, Scorpion Goddess Kharibam
Defender: Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Monica, Jyoti Chhatri, Mahima Chaudhary
Midfielder: Salima Tete (captain), Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Jyoti, Baljeet Kaur, Manisha Chauhan, Lalremsiami
Forward: Mumtaz Khan, Sangeeta Kumari, Deepika, Sharmila Devi, Preeti Dubey, Vandana Kataria, Sunelita Toppo, Deepika Soreng.