Salima Tete to lead India at women's Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal

TL;DR in 30 sec

• Hockey India named a 20-member squad, captained by midfielder Salima Tete, for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal, India Sports Hub reported.
• The tournament runs from 19 to 28 November at the International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal, according to India Sports Hub and The Bridge.
• India are the defending champions and have won the title in 2016, 2023 and 2024, according to India Sports Hub and Outlook India.
• Goalkeeper Savita Punia is not in the squad, The Bridge reported.

What happened

Hockey India announced the squad on Tuesday, 10 November, India Sports Hub reported. Midfielder Salima Tete will captain the side.

The 20 players, as listed by India Sports Hub and The Bridge, are:

• Goalkeepers: Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam.
• Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu, Lalthantluangi and Pooja Sahoo.
• Midfielders: Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete, Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur and Ishika.
• Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami and Mumtaz Khan.

Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne plans to try some players in unfamiliar positions, according to India Sports Hub. “This is the moment I want to give other players the chance to showcase their talent on the international stage,” Marijne said, as quoted by India Sports Hub.

Why it matters for India 🇮🇳

This is the team’s first international tournament since it won gold at the Asian Games in Japan last month, Outlook India reported. India Sports Hub said it is also the team’s first chance to play before a home crowd since that win.

India and South Korea have won the Asian Champions Trophy three times each, according to India Sports Hub. A win in Bhopal would make India the only team with four titles. India are also chasing a third title in a row, Outlook India said.

“Playing in front of home supporters will be a great motivation,” Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said, Pragativadi reported.

Background

Six teams will take part: India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea, according to The Bridge. Each team plays the other five once. The top four after this league stage go through to the semi-finals, India Sports Hub reported.

India beat China in the women’s hockey final at the Asian Games in Gifu, Japan, on 2 October, according to a photo caption in Outlook India. China are Asia’s top-ranked women’s team, Outlook India and India Sports Hub reported.

Different perspectives

The reports differ on why Savita Punia, a senior goalkeeper, is missing. Pragativadi reported that she has been rested for the home tournament. The Bridge said only that she was not included, without giving a reason. India Sports Hub did not mention her. This post treats the reason as unconfirmed.

Open questions 🤔

• Was Savita Punia rested, as Pragativadi reported, or left out for another reason?
• Which players will coach Sjoerd Marijne try in new positions?
• Can India win the title for a record fourth time and a third year in a row?

What to watch next

India open against Malaysia on 19 November, after the opening ceremony, Outlook India reported. They then play South Korea on 21 November, Thailand on 22 November, China on 24 November and Japan on 25 November, according to a Hockey India press release quoted by Outlook India.

The semi-finals are on 27 November and the final and bronze-medal match on 28 November, according to India Sports Hub and Outlook India.