Hockey India Announces 24-Member Junior Women's Squad for UK Exposure Tour
Hockey India has unveiled a 24-member Indian Junior Women's squad for an exposure tour of the United Kingdom, scheduled from July 5 to 14. The team, under the guidance of newly appointed coach Tim White, will play seven matches across Scotland and England as part of preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the Junior Asia Cup, according to a release from the federation.
Squad Leadership and Goalkeeping Core
The young squad will be captained by Khaidem Shileima Chanu. The goalkeeping duties will be handled by Nidhi and Engil Harsha Rani Minz. The defensive unit comprises Pooja Sahoo, Supriya, Madhu, F. Lalbi Aksiami, Lalneihpuii, and Parwati Topno.
Midfield and Forward Line
The midfield features captain Chanu, Tanuja Toppo, Supriya Kujur, Pooja Malik, Binima Dhan, Geeta Yadav, Roshni Aind, and Tanushree Dinesh Kadu. The forward line includes Sukhveer Kaur, Shashi Khasa, Lalrinpuii, Nisha Minj, Purnima Yadav, Kajal, Sanika Chandrakant Mane, and Krishna Sharma.
Tour Schedule and Opposition
The nine-day tour will begin with two matches against the Scotland Senior Women's Team at the University of Edinburgh. Subsequently, the team will face junior sides from the United States, England, and Belgium at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre. This competitive experience is designed to allow coach White to fine-tune combinations and strategies ahead of future tournaments.
Coach White Emphasizes Learning and Preparation
"The tour to the UK is an important part of the development process for our junior squad. We have selected an exciting young group, many of whom have not had exposure to foreign teams, so it will be a great learning opportunity for individuals and for the group as a team," said White. He added, "As we will be playing against highly-competitive opposition, we expect to be challenged. However, we will take every game as a learning opportunity while also implementing the way of play we have been working on for the last 10 weeks. I'm certain this will be great preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup as we will use this tour to confirm our strengths as a team and also the key areas we need to improve."
Full Squad List
Goalkeepers: Nidhi, Engil Harsha Rani Minz. Defenders: Pooja Sahoo, Supriya, Madhu, F. Lalbi Aksiami, Lalneihpuii, Parwati Topno. Midfielders: Khaidem Shileima Chanu (c), Tanuja Toppo, Supriya Kujur, Pooja Malik, Binima Dhan, Geeta Yadav, Roshni Aind, Tanushree Dinesh Kadu. Forwards: Sukhveer Kaur, Shashi Khasa, Lalrinpuii, Nisha Minj, Purnima Yadav, Kajal, Sanika Chandrakant Mane, Krishna Sharma.
