K. ARUMUGAM

Normally Hockey India doesn’t extend consent to play its core group players for the National Games — an Indian Olympic Association event for all Olympic disciplines being held in a State but not held regularly (annually) in the decade – but this year it did. Due to the IOA’s pressure to play all elite players in the recently held National Games in Gujarat, Indian hockey camp had to be rescheduled. Two weeks after the National Games, national camp for the core group is back for the women. Men’s team on the other hand is at Bhubaneswar readying to face ‘Mini Tournament’ aka Pro League starter.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Core group have reported back in the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru for a four-week National Coaching Camp which concludes on 26^th November. The National Camp is focused on preparing for the FIH Women’s Nations Cup scheduled to be held in Valencia, Spain from 11^th December 2022. The FIH Women’s Nations Cup assumes significance, as it brings in a system of promotion-relegation, where the champions will be promoted to the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League’s 2023-2024 season. 

The Core Group includes Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Bansari Solanki, Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Reet, Mahima Chaudhary, Nisha, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Monika, Mariana Kujur, Sonika, Neha, Baljeet Kaur, Reena Khokar, Vaishali Phalke, Ajmina Kujur, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Sharmila Devi, Deepika, Sangita Kumari, Rani and Beauty Dungdung.

Mumtaz Khan, Sushma Kumari and Kushboo are also part of the camp and will be undergoing rehab. 

The selection trials for the upcoming FIH Nations Cup will also be held during the four-week National Camp. The Indian team grouped in Pool B will battle it out against Canada, Japan and South Africa while Ireland, Italy, Korea and Spain are grouped in Pool A.

Speaking about the importance of the National Camp, Chief Coach Janneke Schopman said, “The next four weeks is quite important for us as we will go through all the aspects of our game that needs to improve before we take on these strong teams in the FIH Nations Cup. It will certainly be a challenging competition as all teams will come with a goal to qualify for the FIH Hockey Pro League by winning this tournament. For us, a place in the Pro League is critical as it gives us great exposure playing alongside some of the top teams in the world as we prepare for important events like the Asian Games and the Paris Olympics. The players very well understand the importance of Nations Cup and are ready to give their 100 per cent in our preparations.”

Indian Women’s Core Group: 

1.Savita

2. Rajani Etimarpu

3. Bichu Devi Kharibam

4. Bansari Solanki

5. Deep Grace Ekka

6. Gurjit Kaur

7. Nikki Pradhan

8. Udita

9. Ishika Chaudhary

10. Akshata Abaso Dhekale

11. Reet

12. Mahima Chaudhary

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 Khokar

24. Vaishali Phalke

25. Ajmina Kujur

26. Lalremsiami

27. Navneet Kaur

28. Vandana Katariya

29. Sharmila Devi

30. Deepika

31. Sangita Kumari

32. Rani

33. Beauty Dungdung.