Defender Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam will lead a 17-member Indian women’s hockey team in a four-nation tournament in Darwin, Australia starting May 30.
The tournament, seen as preparation for the Rio Olympics, will also feature hosts and world No. 3 Australia, fourth-ranked New Zealand and world No. 10 Japan.
While Sushila has been appointed as captain in place of regular skipper Ritu Rani, who has been rested, Deepika has been retained vice-captain.
The squad also has seniors players like Poonam Rani and Vanadana Kataria form the core group besides a few youngsters in defender Nikki Pradhan and 18-year-old midfielder Preeti Dubey, who was named the Asunta Lakra Upcoming Player of the Year Award (Women U-21) at the second Hockey India Annual Awards earlier this year.
On her new role, Sushila said: “It is a huge honour to be named captain of the squad for the tour. We have already faced Japan and New Zealand earlier at the Hawke’s Bay Cup. Our chief aim will be to perform well against Japan and Australia and analyse their game at close quarters since they are in our pool at the Olympics.”
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Rajani Etimarpu
Defenders: Deepika (vice-captain), Sunita Lakra, Nikki Pradhan, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (captain), Hnialum Lal Ruat Feli
Midfielders: Rani, Namita Toppo, Navjot Kaur, Monika Preeti Dubey, Renuka Yadav
Forwards: Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Anuradha Devi Thokchom, Lilima Minz.
