India Women’s Hockey team is all set to tour New Zealand which will begin from January 25th in Auckland and this time, the team will be led by star striker Rani Rampal. Also, as per the squad announcement, goalkeeper Savita will assist Rani as her deputy on the tour.
India’s New Zealand tour will comprise of 3 matches. The series will begin with the team first playing against the New Zealand Development squad on January 25 followed by matches on January 27 and 29 against the New Zealand Women’s team.
“I want to use this tour to create more competition within this group. Although we are taking a 20-member team, in some matches we will use 16 players because that is what is allowed at the Olympics. The players have to show their best, and I want to see how they perform under pressure and stay in the right rhythm through the series,” chief coach Sjoerd Marijne was quoted as saying.
The matches against the World No.6 New Zealand and World No.5 Great Britain will help India prepare for the upcoming 20020 Olympics.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Rajini Etimarpu; Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete; Midfielders: Sushila Chanu, Nisha, Namita Toppo, Udita, Monika, Lilima Minz; Forwards: Neha, Sonika, Rani, Sharmila Devi, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Navjot Kaur.
