Hockey India has announced that defender Jyoti Singh will captain the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team for their upcoming Europe tour. The tour, scheduled from May 21 to 29, 2024, will see the team play six matches across three nations.
The team will compete against Belgium, Germany, and two club teams in the Netherlands – Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push and Oranje Rood. The tour is part of a broader strategy to expose the team to international competition and help them develop their skills.
Hockey India’s squad of Junior Women’s Hockey Team
Midfielder Sakshi Rana has been named as the deputy to Jyoti Singh. The 22-member squad includes goalkeepers Aditi Maheshwari and Nidhi, defenders Lalthantluangi, Anjali Barwa, Puja Sahoo, Mamita Oram, and Nirru Kullu, and midfielders Kshetrimayum Sonia Devi, Rajani Kerketta, Priyanka Yadav, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, Anisha Sahu, and Supriya Kujur. The forwards named in the squad are Binima Dhan, Hina Bano, Lalrinpuii, Ishika, Sanjana Horo, Sonam, and Kanika Siwach.
The team will play their first match on May 21 against Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push in Breda, followed by a match against Belgium at the same venue on May 22. They will then play Belgium a second time on May 24, followed by consecutive games against Germany on May 26 in Breda and May 27 in Germany. The final game of the tour will be on May 29 against Oranje Rood.
Squad Announcement Alert!📢
Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team is set for Europe tour🏑🔥
Watch them in action from 20th May to 29th May🇮🇳#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame
.
.
.
.
.@FIH_Hockey @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @Limca_Official @CocaCola_Ind pic.twitter.com/H4dKKhATXz— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) May 6, 2024
Jyoti Singh expressed her excitement about the tour, stating, “All of us have gotten to know each other pretty well during the camp. Everyone here is very skilful and talented. It will be fun and a good learning experience playing abroad against other top-quality teams.”
Vice-Captain Sakshi Rana echoed her sentiments, adding, “Playing against good teams from other countries helps in developing an understanding of different approaches to the game. An exposure tour like this provides all of us with a tremendous opportunity to take our game to the next level.”
The Europe tour represents a significant opportunity for the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team to gain valuable international experience and further develop their skills. Under the leadership of Jyoti Singh and Sakshi Rana, the team is poised to make the most of this opportunity and continue their journey towards becoming a dominant force in international women’s hockey.
Also Read: IGU launches new initiative for young golfers to propel growth in India
