New Delhi, 14 February 2021: Hockey India on Sunday announced the 25-member core probable group for the Senior Women’s National Coaching Camp as part of the team’s preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

After a two-week break following their Argentina Tour, the core group will assemble at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bengaluru on 14 February 2020 and will undergo mandatory quarantine.

In January, the 25-member core group had set out on their first tour in over 12 months and despite not registering a win on the tour, Chief Coach Sjoerd Marjine was happy with the effort put in by his team against the World No.2 side.

Marjine said, “Considering this was our first tour after a year-long break due to the pandemic, I am quite pleased with the way the team performed. We improved match-by-match and this is a positive step in our preparations for the Olympic Games. Basis this performance, we will be planning the next steps that needs improvement and will be focusing on those areas during this camp.”

“While we are in quarantine, we will make use of this time to analyze in detail every single match we played in Argentina. Each player will be tasked with an assignment to present to the team the areas they need to improve upon. What I am particularly happy about with this team is that they are vocal about the changes they want to make in their performance. They accept criticism and are able to move on with determination to improve,” he said.

The 25-member probable list includes goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu and Bichu Devi Kharibam. The defenders selected for the national camp includes Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Manpreet Kaur, Gurjit Kaur and Nisha.

Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Neha, Lilima Minz, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Namita Toppo are the midfielders called-up for the National Camp while forwards Rani, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Navjot Kaur, Navneet Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Jyoti, Sharmila Devi, Udita, Rashmita Minz will also report for the camp.

The National Coaching Camp concludes on April 7, 2021.

Senior Women’s Core Probable List

Goalkeepers

1.     Savita (Hockey Haryana)                                         

2.     Rajani Etimarpu (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

3.     Bichu Devi Kharibam (Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy)

Defenders

4.     Deep Grace Ekka (Railway Sports Promotion Board)                                               

5.     Reena Khokhar (Railway Sports Promotion Board)                                      

6.     Salima Tete (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

7.     Manpreet Kaur (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

8.     Gurjit Kaur (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

9.     Nisha (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

Midfielders

10.  Nikki Pradhan (Railway Sports Promotion Board)                                                                 

11.  Monika (Railway Sports Promotion Board)                                 

12.  Neha (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

13.  Lilima Minz (Odisha State Warehousing Corporation)

14.  Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

15.  Namita Toppo (Odisha Mining Corporation)

Forwards

16.  Rani (Sports Authority of India – NS NIS Patiala)                               

17.  Lalremsiami (Railway Sports Promotion Board)        

18.  Vandana Katariya (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

19.  Navjot Kaur (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

20.  Navneet Kaur (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

21.  Rajwinder Kaur (Hockey Punjab)

22.  Jyoti (Railway Sports Promotion Board)

23.  Sharmila Devi (Him Academy)

24.  Udita (Development of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana)

25.  Rashmita Minz (Hockey Odisha)