At the helm: Salima Tete.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
The passing of baton within the Indian girls’s hockey team appears formally on the right track with teen Salima Tete handed captaincy for the upcoming Europe leg of the FIH Pro League 2023-24 and Navneet Kaur named her deputy because the 24-member squad was introduced on Thursday.
Interestingly, long-serving captain Savita and seniors like Vandana Katariya, Monika and Neha Goyal are a part of the squad, clearly indicating that Hockey India (HI) and coach Harendra Singh are wanting ahead to long-term management whereas retaining expertise within the ranks.
India will play towards Argentina, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain and Germany twice every throughout Belgium and England, beginning May 22 and ending on June 9. The Indian girls are at the moment sixth within the nine-team competitors with eight factors from eight matches. India can also be the one team within the fray to not qualify for the Paris Olympics.
“I am happy that I have been appointed to lead the team. It is a big responsibility and I am looking forward to this new role. We have a strong squad and it’s a mix of experienced and young players. In the upcoming Belgium and England legs of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-2024, we look to put our strong foot forward,” the 22-year outdated Salima stated.
Coach Harendra is but to make an official assertion or remark since his appointment final month whereas HI too hasn’t made any formal announcement of the identical to this point.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam.
Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Monika, Jyoti Chhatri, Mahima Chaudhary.
Midfielders: Salima Tete (capt.), Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Jyoti, Baljeet Kaur, Manisha Chauhan, Lalremsiami.
Forwards: Mumtaz Khan, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Sharmila Devi, Preeti Dubey, Vandana Katariya, Sunelita Toppo, Deepika Soreng.