Indian women team for the forthcoming Asian Games has been announced, without any major changes in the teams that toured in the run up to the event.
Indian women hockey team, a highly potential outfit, but has been underperforming for over six years from now, has a huge task in the Asian Games, which can make or mar their future.
Experienced midfielder Riturani leads the challenge.
Comeback kid Deepika is her deputy.
Indian women missed a great opportunity to be in the Olympics when they could not put in sufficient number of goals against South Africa in the Olympic Qualifier in Delhi two years ago. Since then it has been a story of missed chances all the way.
If India wins the Asian Games, it can directly ensure its place in the next Olympics.
India has been having a foreign coach in Neil Hagwood, but doesn’t change its plunge into mediocrity in which it found itself since early 2010.
Indian women team for the Asian Games: Savita (84 Caps), Deep Grace Ekka (62 Caps), Deepika (131 Caps) Vice-Captain, Sunita Lakra (30 Caps), Namita Toppo (51 Caps), Jaspreet Kaur (62 Caps), Sushila Chanu (76 caps), Monika (12 Caps), Ritu Rani (184 Caps), ilima Minz (33 Caps), Amandeep Kaur (9 Caps), Chanchan Devi Thokchom (105 caps), Rani (116 Caps), Poonam Rani (118 caps), Vandana Katariya (104 Caps), Navjot Kaur (27 Caps).