The Indian women's hockey team for the tour of Germany and Spain was announced on Tuesday. A 20-member squad, led by skipper Savita Punia will fly to Europe as part of their preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.
India will first participate in three matches in Germany, playing one against China and two against the hosts. These matches will take place from the 16th to the 19th of July 2023.
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Following the Germany tour, the team will travel to Spain for the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation-International Tournament where they will compete against South Africa, England, and the host team from the 25th to the 30th of July in Terrassa.
The Indian team had been training at the National Coaching Camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. Veteran defender Deep Grace Ekka has been named as the vice-captain.
What did coach Janneke Schopman say about the upcoming tours?
“The Spain and Germany tours will be a great opportunity for our team to show their ability and skills on an international stage again and to continue our preparation for the Asian Games," Janneke Schopman said.
"I am excited as the players are performing at a high level this camp and they have been working tirelessly to improve their game and both tours will be a perfect platform for us to test ourselves against strong opponents. We will focus on maintaining a strong team unity and executing our strategies. Our goal is to play our own game and utilize the learnings of this camp and last tour."
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“The tours will also be crucial for us in regards to the upcoming Asian Games as they will provide us with valuable insights and help us identify areas where we can further enhance our performance. It's important for us to learn from each match and grow as a team," she added.
Goalkeepers:
1. Savita (C)
2. Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders:
3. Deep Grace Ekka (VC)
4. Nikki Pradhan
5. Ishika Chaudhary
6. Udita
7. Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam
Midfielders:
8. Nisha
9. Monika
10. Salima Tete
11. Neha
12. Navneet Kaur
13. Sonika
14. Baljeet Kaur
15. Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke
16. Jyoti Chhatri
Forwards:
17. Lalremsiami
18. Vandana Katariya
19. Sangita Kumari
20. Deepika
