Chanu to lead eves team in Junior Worlds

Defender Sushila Chanu will lead an 18-member Indian team in the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup to be played at Monchengladbach, Germany, from July 27 to August 4.

Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Savitri Purty, chief coach of senior women’s team Neil Hawgood, junior women’s coach Narinder Saini and scientific advisor Matt Tredrea alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh selected the squad and nine standby players on the basis of their recent performance during the Scotland tour, senior women team’s Europe tour, FIH World League Round 3 in Rotterdam and fitness in the preparatory camps. India is placed in Pool C along with New Zealand, Australia and Russia. India will play their opening match against Australia on July 27 followed by games against New Zealand on July 28 and Russia on July 30.

The team is currently undergoing a camp at NIS, Patiala. As part of their preparations the team played five matches against Scotland in May. India won four matches against Scotland U-21 side and lost one match against senior Scottish side that too with a margin of two goals. The Indian team will depart for Germany on July 15 and will play four warm-up games.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Sanarik Chanu, Bigan Soy; Defenders: Pinky Devi, Deep Grace Ekka, Namita Toppo, Manjit Kaur, M N Poonamma, Sushila Chanu (captain), Monika; Mid-fielders: Lily Chanu, Lilima Minz, Navjot Kaur, Vandana Kataria, Ritusha Arya; Forwards: Poonam Rani, Rani (vice-captain), Anupa Barla, Navneet Kaur; Standbys: Sukhmani Virk (goalkeeper), Manmeet Kaur (defender), Kiran Dahiya (defender), Sushila Lakra (defender), Renuka Yadav (mid-fielder), Nikki Pradhan (mid-fielder), Jaswinder Kaur (forward), Neha Goyal (forward), Punam Barla (forward).