The Indian women’s hockey team has appointed Salima Tete as captain for the upcoming Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024. The championship is set to take place from November 11 to 20 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar.
Navneet Kaur will serve as vice-captain.
The tournament features India competing against China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand for regional supremacy.
India will take on Malaysia in the opening match, followed by Korea on November 12, followed by matches against Thailand (November 14), China (November 16) and Japan (November 17).
India won the 2023 edition after beating Japan 4-0 in the final to secure their second title after 2016.
Speaking on the team selection, dynamic mid-fielder Tete said, “It’s an incredible feeling to lead the team into another major tournament, especially as defending champions.”
She further added, “We have trained rigorously and have a strong unit with both experienced players and young talent. Our goal is to defend our title and play with the same passion and determination we showed last year.”
The team includes goalkeepers Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam. Defenders are Udita, Jyoti, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, and Ishika Chaudhary. Midfielders consist of Neha, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, and Lalremsiami. The forwards are Navneet Kaur, Preeti Dubey, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdun.
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“We are confident in our preparation and the chemistry we’ve built within the team. Playing in front of our home crowd is a huge boost, and we are ready to face tough competition from the best teams in Asia,” vice-captain Navneet said.
