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On Monday, October 28, Hockey India announced 18-member squad for the upcoming Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, set to be played in Bihar from November 11. Midfielder Salima Tete is set to lead the new-looking Indian side in the upcoming tournament with Navneet Kaur taking up the role as her deputy.
Speaking of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024, the tournament will be played from November 11 onwards at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. The final of the Asian Champions trophy is set to be played on November 20. Notably, India will head into the tournament as the defending champions, having clinched the title in 2023 in Ranchi.
Sushila and Beauty Dungdung return; Navneet Kaur named deputy
The champions, who will begin their campaign against Malaysia on November 11, will also see top teams including reigning Olympic silver medallist China, along with Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand feature in the tournament. Speaking of the squad, Sushila and Beauty Dungdung have made a comeback after recovering from their respective injuries.
Speaking after being named the captain, Tete expressed her excitement to lead the side. "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. Navneet, who has been named Tete’s deputy also opened up ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy. "We are confident in our preparation and the chemistry we’ve built within the team. Playing in front of our home crowd is a huge boost, and we are ready to face tough competition from the best teams in Asia. Working alongside Salima has been great, and we are determined to make this tournament a memorable one," she said.
India’s squad for Bihar Women's Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders: Udita, Jyoti, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Ishika Chaudhary
Midfielders: Neha, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Preeti Dubey, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung
