Indian women’s hockey team captain Salima Tete is set to lead the team in the upcoming Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024, scheduled to be held from November 11 to 20 at the newly-developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. As the defending champions, India enters the tournament with high expectations and a strong squad.
Team Composition
The 18-member squad includes a mix of experienced players and young talent. Navneet Kaur has been named vice-captain, while Savita Punia and Bichu Devi Kharibam will share goalkeeping duties. The defensive line-up features Udita, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke. The midfield boasts dynamic players like Neha, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, and Lalremsiami. The forward line includes Navneet Kaur, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Preeti Dubey, and Beauty Dungdung.
Salima Tete’s thoughts ahead of the tournament
Salima Tete expressed her excitement about leading the team once again and emphasized the rigorous training the squad has undergone. “It’s an incredible feeling to lead the team into another major tournament, especially as defending champions. We’ve trained rigorously and have a strong unit with both experienced players and young talent. Our goal is to defend our title and play with the same passion and determination we showed last year,” she said.
🏑🇮🇳 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲? Indian Hockey team has announced a 1️⃣8️⃣-member women's squad led by Salima Tete for the upcoming Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024.
📍 Rajgir, Bihar
🗓️ November 11th to 20th pic.twitter.com/Rw0Ptu7ier— Sportwalk Media (@sportwalkmedia) October 28, 2024
Tournament Schedule
India’s campaign will kick off with a match against Malaysia on November 11, followed by a game against Korea on November 12. The team will then face Thailand on November 14, China on November 16, and conclude the group stage against Japan on November 17. The tournament will feature six teams: China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, all competing for the title.
Key Players and Comebacks
Notably, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Beauty Dungdung are making their return to the squad after recovering from injuries, bolstering India’s bid to defend their title. Vice-captain Navneet Kaur echoed Tete’s sentiments, expressing confidence in the team’s preparation and chemistry.
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