'Ready to defend our title'- Indian captain Salima Tete confident ahead of Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024

Women’s hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2024 will begin from November 11.

With just 10 days left until the start of the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024, the Indian Women’s Hockey Captain Salima Tete and Vice-Captain Navneet Kaur expressed excitement and shared insights into their preparations for the tournament, scheduled to take place from 11 to 20 November 2024 at Rajgir Hockey Stadium.

Following the success of last year’s Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Ranchi, Hockey India is gearing up to deliver another spectacle, this time in Rajgir, Bihar. This event will strengthen their vision of expanding hockey’s presence across India. Top Asian teams, including Paris 2024 silver medalist China, along with Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, are set to assemble in the historic town of Rajgir.

Expressing excitement for the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024, India Captain Tete said, “The anticipation and excitement for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy is in equal measure as we will be playing at a new venue in a beautiful town Rajgir. We played an exhibition match here in August and received a great response from the crowd. We’re looking forward to returning to Rajgir and playing our best hockey.”

Vice-Captain Kaur added, “We were in Rajgir in August and received a warm reception from the crowd. Now, they’ll have the opportunity to witness top Asian teams play right in their town. Bihar is also the birthplace of our Chief Coach, Harendra Sir, so this makes even more special occasion. We’re looking forward to putting on a great show for the people of Rajgir and Bihar.”

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As India enters the tournament as defending champions, expectations are high for the team. Tete said, “Last year, we had a memorable outing in Ranchi, where we clinched the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy title. We know our fans have even higher expectations this time, and we’re ready to take on the challenge to defend the title.”

“We have gone about some intense training sessions at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. We are prepared for the tournament and are looking forward to some thrilling days of hockey in Bihar,” she added while talking about the team’s preparations.

Speaking about the team’s first assignment of the season, Kaur said, “Excitement aside, we are focused on our goal. We are in the new Olympic cycle, we start afresh and we have to improve and grow step by step to achieve our ultimate goals.”

Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 to be telecast on Sony Sports Ten 1 and live stream on SonyLiv.

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