Asian Champions Trophy: Savita Punia to lead India’s charge in Ranchi as Hockey India name largely same squad as Hangzhou | Hockey News

It will be a largely unchanged Indian women’s hockey team squad from Hangzhou that will take part in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 set to take place from 27th October to 5th November in Ranchi, Jharkand. Hockey India announced a 20-member squad on Wednesday with Savita Punia leading the side with Deep Grace Ekka as her deputy.
India recently won the bronze medal at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou. India will compete at the ACT alongside Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
India’s Chief Coach Janneke Schopman said, “It is an important tournament for us to continue our momentum and our steady improvement as a team. While we performed well at the Asian Games to claim bronze, the upcoming tournament will give us a chance to further improve our standings against our Asian challengers. We will get a chance to put our learnings from Hangzhou into action and test ourselves once again. With the tournament happening in Ranchi, Jharkhand, we are eager to perform our best in front of home fans, and showcase our growth as a team.”
India will open their campaign in the tournament against Thailand on 27th October 2023, followed a match against Malaysia on 28th. That’ll be followed the rematch of the semifinal that India lost in Hangzhou as they on China in their third game on Monday. After a match against Japan on 31st October 2023. India will play their final pool game against Korea on 2nd November. The semifinals and final of the tournament will be played on Saturday, 4th November 2023, and Sunday, 5th November 2023.
Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam have been named in the l of goalkeepers in the squad while Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, and Deep Grace Ekka have been named as defenders.
Nisha, Salima Tete, Neha, Navneet Kaur, Sonika, Monika, Jyoti, and Baljeet Kaur form the midfield line-up, while Lalremsiami, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, and Vandana Katariya have been named as the forwards in the squad. Sharmila Devi and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke will travel with the squad as backup options. Former captain Sushila Chanu is the sole absentee from the Hangzhou squad. Most Read
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India’s squad for ACT 2023:

Goalkeepers: Savita (Captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Deep Grace Ekka (Vice-captain)
Midfielders: Nish, Salima Tete, Neha, Navneet Kaur, Sonika, Monika, Jyoti, Baljeet Kaur
Forwards: Lalremsiami, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Vandana Katariya
Replacement Players: Sharmila Devi, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke