Three from Odisha in Indian Women’s Hockey Team for New Zealand Tour

Bhubaneswar: Three players from Odisha have been selected in the Indian Women’s Hockey Team for the upcoming New Zealand tour.

The players from Odisha include Defender Deep Grace Ekka and Midfielders Namita Toppo and Lilima Minz.

Hockey India today named a 20-member Indian Women’s Hockey Team for the New Zealand Tour. All the matches will be played in Auckland, New Zealand, starting from 25 January 2020.

Rani Rampal will captain the team and experienced goalkeeper Savita will share the responsibility of Vice-Captain.

While the team’s first match is against the New Zealand Development Squad on 25 January 2020, they will play against the New Zealand Women’s Team on 27 and 29 January followed by a match against Great Britain on 4 February and then conclude the tour with another match with the New Zealand Women’s Team on 5 February 2020.

Speaking about the Tour, Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “I want to use this tour to create more competition within this group. Although we are taking a 20-member team, in some matches we will use 16 players because we play with 16 players at the Olympics and in some matches we will play 18 members. The players have to show their best and I want to see how they perform under pressure and stay in the right rhythm for matches.”

He further added that playing against the World no.5 England/ Great Britain and World No.6 New Zealand provides a great opportunity to be our best and I want the fearless attitude on display during the tour,” Marijne said.

Indian Women’s Team for New Zealand Tour:

Rani Rampal (Captain) ,  Savita (Vice Captain) Rajini Etimarpu, Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu, Nisha, Namita Toppo, Udita, Monika, Lilima Minz, Neha, Sonika, Sharmila Devi, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Navjot Kaur.