Savita Punia to steer India girls’s hockey workforce at CWG | Hockey

Sixteen of the 18 gamers that may participate on the World Cup will even be heading to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Video games as Hockey India (HI) introduced the ladies’s squad on Thursday.

The 18-member workforce can be led by goalkeeper Savita Punia with defender Deep Grace Ekka as her deputy. Rajani Etimarpu would be the second goalkeeper with Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan and Udita as nicely in defence. Midfield tasks can be shouldered by Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur and Salima Tete whereas the ahead line will characteristic Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi and Sangita Kumari.

Solely goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam and Sonika, who’re a part of the squad for the World Cup from July 1-17 in Spain and Netherlands, won’t be heading for the multidisciplinary Video games as they’ve been changed by Rajani Etimarpu and Sangita Kumari. India’s talismanic ahead Rani Rampal, who’s but to get better from her hamstring damage, has been neglected.

“We’ve chosen an skilled facet for the Commonwealth Video games and the gamers consider they’ve shot at a medal this time. The workforce is upbeat after outing within the FIH Professional League and perceive very nicely that the expectations are additionally excessive,” India chief coach Janneke Schopman mentioned. “We’d have completed our World Cup marketing campaign solely days earlier than the CWG so it was very important for us to choose a bodily match workforce because the restoration time between the 2 occasions is nearly 10 days.”

India have been positioned in Pool A on the CWG the place will they start their marketing campaign in opposition to Ghana (July 29) earlier than dealing with Wales (July 30), hosts England (August 2) and Canada (August 3). The highest-2 groups will qualify for the semi-finals.

Of their earlier outing at CWG in Gold Coast 2018, India had completed fourth. Their greatest end was successful gold in Manchester 2002.