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)