K. ARUMUGAM

Tokyo Olympics’ hat-trick star Vandana Katariya is the most capped player in the forthcoming Asia Cup, all set to start in two days’ time in Muscat, Oman.  With 249 caps to her credit, flamboyant forward Vandana sports 38 international caps more than the next senior most player in Muscat, colleague Deep Grace Ekka. In fact, only three players with 200 plus caps will be seen in action at the 10th Asia Cup, which is Asia’s World Cup qualifier too.

All the three are from India. Indian captain and goal-keeper  sensation is third most capped player. She has just a cap less than defender Deep Grace Ekka.

However, Savita, who stood like Rock of Gibraltar against Australia in the Quarters of the Tokyo Olympics, and thus had become a national celebrity, has the unique label of being the only Indian to figure in four Olympics.

Vandana made her international debut in 2010 Asian Champions Trophy and is going strong in her 14th year of international career, though she was part of the 2009 Jr World Cup team too.

Vandana’s compatriot Sushila Chanu, Rio Olympics captain – who works with Vandana in the Central Railways, Mumbai – is fourth most experienced player (190). India being the most experienced outfit in Muscat battlefield, occupies top four slots of most capped players.

29-year old Japan captain Yuri Nagai comes fifth, breaking the Indian streak.

The news is that six out of top ten most experienced in Muscat are Indian women. The experienced lot is expected to largely compensate not-so-great performance of their men’s counterpart in the first major outing after Tokyo, the Asian Champions Trophy where they had to be contend with bronze.

Therefore  to say that these Indian women carry a huge pressure on their shoulders in the prevailing scenario is stating the obvious. Will these top stars, backed with vast experience spread over a decade, will live up to the expectation is what excites the Muscat event.

The top 10 seniors in term of number of international caps:

1 Vandana Katariya 249
2 Deep Grace 211
3 Savita 210
4 Sushila Chanu 190
5 Yuri Nagai (Japan) 188
6 Navjot Kaur 180
7 Juliani Din (Mal) 176
8 Monika 159
9 Oikawa Shihori (Japan) 142
10 Eunbi Cheon (SK) 125

Photo: Vandana Katariya’s social media post