India announces squad FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup 2023

Preeti will lead the 18-member squad as captain.

Hockey India has named the Indian junior women’s hockey team for the much-awaited FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023, scheduled to be held from 29th November to 10th December in Santiago, Chile.

India are grouped along with Germany, Belgium and Canada in Pool C. They will begin their World Cup campaign against Canada on 29th November before taking on the European sides Germany and Belgium on 30th November and 2nd December respectively in their Pool C matches.

The other teams in the fray are the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Chile in Pool A, while Argentina, Spain, Zimbabwe and Korea are grouped in Pool B. In Pool D, England, the USA, New Zealand and Japan will vie for a place in the Quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals are scheduled for 6th December and semifinals on 8th December, while the final will be played on 10th December.

In the previous edition, India had narrowly missed the bronze medal, finishing fourth. For the upcoming edition, the Indian junior team will be captained by Preeti and vice-captained by Rutuja Dadaso Pisal.

The squad includes goalkeepers Khushboo and Madhuri Kindo. Defenders Neelam, Preeti, Jyoti Singh and Ropni Kumari have been named in the squad along with midfielders Mahima Tete, Manju Chorsiya, Jyoti Chhatri, Hina Bano, Sujata Kujur and Rutaja Dadaso Pisal.

The forward line features Sakshi Rana, Mumtaz Khan, Annu, Deepika Soreng, Dipi Monika Toppo and Sunelita Toppo, while defender Thounaojam Nirupama Devi and midfielder Jyothi Edula have been named as replacement players for the marquee event.

Speaking about the team selection, Indian women’s junior team coach Tushar Khandker said, “We have an incredible talent pool, it wasn’t easy to select the final squad, but I believe we have chosen the best one for the World Cup and these players have worked very hard in the past couple of months leading up to the event.

“The players are excited, they have performed really well in the recent past and it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase their talent on the prestigious platform.

“We will have our training and practice matches in Argentina before heading to Chile, so that will help us in acclimatising to the conditions and setting the tempo for the Junior World Cup,” he added.

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Indian junior women’s hockey team for FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023

GOALKEEPERS

1. Khushboo

2. Madhuri Kindo

DEFENDERS

3. Neelam

4. Preeti (C)

5. Jyoti Singh

6. Ropni Kumari

MIDFIELDERS

7. Mahima Tete

8. Manju Chorsiya

9. Jyoti Chhatri

10. Hina Bano

11. Sujata Kujur

12. Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (VC)

FORWARDS

13. Sakshi Rana

14. Mumtaz Khan

15. Annu

16. Deepika Soreng

17. Dipi Monika Toppo

18. Sunelita Toppo

REPLACEMENT ATHLETES

19. Thounaojam Nirupama Devi

20. Jyothi Edula

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