Women’s FIH Pro League: Savita Punia To Lead As India Announce 24-Member Squad For European Leg

Defender Deep Grace Ekka will be the vice captain of the Indian team. India play six matches from June 11 to 22 in European lꦬeg.

PTI

Updated on: 21 May 2022 12:29 pm

Savita Punia had also led the nationa💫l team in the Indian leg of FIH Women’s Pro League.

Savita Punia had 🌊also led the national team in the Indian leg of FIH Women’s Pro League.

India on Saturday named a 24-member women's hockey team, to be led by Savita Punia, for the European leg of the the FIH Pro League matches in Belgium and Netherlands in June. (More Hockey News)

The team will play six matches from June 11 to 22 ahead of the FIH Hockey 🦄Women's World Cup to be held in Spain and the Netherlands from July 1-17.

India play hosts Belgium on June 11 and 12 in Antwerp before shifting base to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to face Argentina (June 18🍷 and 19) and USA (June 21 and 22).

Savita will continue to lead the team though star striker Rani Rampal is likely to return to a🦩ction after she made her last appearance at last year's Tokyo Olympics.

Rani was under rehabilitation aftꦚer recovering from a prolonged hamstring injury. She was named in the Indian squad for the last two matches of the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar against the Netherlands last month but did not play.

Experienced defender Deep Grace Ekka will be the vice captain of the team which also has junior World Cup stars like Bichu Devi Kharibam, Ishika Chaudhary, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Baljeet Kaur, Sangita K꧙umari and Deepika.

Rajini Etimarpu and Mahima Chaudhary -- who will be the captain and vice captain respectively of the Indian team for the June 4-5 FIH Women's Hocke♍y 5s in Switzerland -- as well as Rajwinder Kaur have been named as standbys.

Talking about the team, chief coach Janneke Schopman said, "This is going to be a v𝔍ery important leg of Pro League matches in Europe👍 as it will give us insights into our progress ahead of the World Cup in July.

"These matꦬches are going to be critical in also finalizing our team for the𓃲 World Cup," Schopman said.

The I💟ndian team is currently placed secಌond in the standings after Argentina with 22 points from eight matches with four wins, three draws and one loss.