Indian women to play a six test match series in New Zealand next month
NEW DELHI, November 20: The Indian women’s team will tour New Zealand from 6- 16 December to play six Tests as part of its preparations for FIH World League Round 2 Tournament to be hosted in Delhi from 18 – 24 February 2013.
Hockey India Selectors B.P Govinda, Savitry Purty and Surender Kaur, alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh and Chief Coach Neil Hawgood watched the trials at Aish Bagh Hockey Stadium and Mayur Park Stadium in Bhopal on 9 and 10 November and chose 18 players and eight stand-byes.
The 18-member squad will be captained by Midfielder Ritu Rani while forward Soundarya Yendala will be the Vice-Captain.
The Schedule for the test series:
December 8: First Test, Napier
December 9: Second Test, Napier
December 11: Third Test, Palmerston North
December 12: Fourth Test, Palmerston North
December 14: Fifth Test, Wellington
December 15: Sixth Test, Wellingon
The squad:
Goalkeepers:
1. Savita
2. Rajani Etimarpu
Defenders:
3. Deep Grace Ekka
4. Kirandeep Kaur
5. Jaspreet Kaur
6. Kiran Dahiya
7. M.N Ponnamma
8. Deepika
Midfielders:
9. Sushila Chanu
10. Ritu Rani (Captain)
11. Chanchan Devi
12. Poonam Rani
13. Namita Toppo
14. Lilima Minz
Forwards:
15. Vandana Katariya
16. Navjot Kaur
17. Anupa Barla
18. Soundarya Yendala (Vice-Captain)
Stand-byes:
1. Yogita Bali (Goalkeeper)
2. Joydeep Kaur (Defender)
3. Pinki Devi (Defender)
4. Sunita Lakra (Midfielder)
5. Monika Malik (Midfielder)
6. Lily Chanu (Forward)
7. Rashmi Singh (Defender)
8. Roselin Dung Dung (Forward)