So Hockey India has officially announced women's squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup . The tournament is set for Auckland,New Zealand from June 15 to 21 and the team selection is looking quite interesting.
And the big news is Salima Tete will be the captain . That's huge responsibility on her shoulders ah,leading a team on an international stage.
The squad seems to have a solid foundation,especially in goal . With experienced keepers like Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam,our defense should feel confident. In these big tournaments,that is half battle won.
Then in the defensive line,you have usual experienced players like Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam,Ishika Chaudhary,Nikki Pradhan,and Jyoti . But they've also brought in two newcomers,Lalthantluangi and Shilpi Dabas,who got their first senior call-ups during that recent tour of Australia only. Good to see new faces getting a chance.
And honestly,this mix is what makes things feel different this time.
Few things that are standing out:
- Midfield leadership is with Salima Tete,and she'll be supported by players like Neha and Sunelita Toppo.
- attacking front looks strong with Navneet Kaur leading,so hopefully we see some good goals.
- Their recent 2-2 draw in series against Australia must be big confidence boost for the team.
Even Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne seems to be setting a serious tone . He said, "The Nations Cup is an important tournament for us. We want to go there and play with ambition to set a standard for ourselves that we can build on." This is kind of mindset we need.
The campaign starts against the United States on June 15,followed by matches against Japan and Uruguay . Then it's semi-finals on June 20 and finals on June 21,so it's a packed schedule.
With this blend of seasoned players and fresh talent,the squad definitely looks motivated on paper . But you never know how things will play out on field... performance under pressure is everything…
