Indian ladies to engage Italy in a 5match Series
New Delhi, 23 November 2014: Indian Women Hockey Team will travel to Rome, Italy for training and engaging the hosts in test matches between 1 to 12 December in preparation for the World Hockey League Round 2.
The 18-member team, basking on the success of the Incheon Asian Games 2014 where the team clinched a bronze medal, will be led by midfielder Ritu Rani with another midfielder Deepika as her deputy.
Speaking on the team structure, Chief Coach, Neil Hawgood said, “The team has been continuously improving with each tournament. With Italy Tour coming their way, the players are expected to continue their good form and raise their bars giving a tough fight to the opponents. We have selected some new players in the squad and this Italy Tour will provide them International exposure as well as an opportunity to polish their skills.”
Accordingly to a Hockey India media release, selectors Surinder Kaur, Harbinder Singh, Mamta Kharab, Roelant Oltmans, Director High Performance, Neil Hawgood, Chief Coach and N.S.Saini, Coach selected the list of 18 players on the basis of the selection trials conducted at SAI centre, Bhopal on 19th and 20th November 2014.
India will be seen playing their first match on 4th December 2014 followed by matches on 6th, 7th, 9th and 11th December 2014.
List of Players
Goalkeepers
1. Savita
2. Rajani Etimarpu
Defenders
3. Deep Grace Ekka
4. Jaspreet Kaur
5. Sushila Chanu
6. M.N.Ponnamma
7.Sunita Lakra
8. Namita Toppo
9. Manjit Kaur
Midfielders
10. Deepika – Vice Captain
11. Lilima Minz
12. Ritu Rani- Captain
13. Lily Chanu
14. Navjot Kaur
15. Amandeep Kaur
Forwards
16. Poonam Rani
17. Vandana Katariya
18. Soundarya Yendala