Hockey: Rani Rampal tried, but rested

New Delhi, June 21

Talismanic striker and former skipper Rani Rampal did not find a place in the 18-member Indian women’s hockey team, to be led by goalkeeper Savita Punia, for next month’s FIH World Cup.

Rani, who led the team to the historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, was picked for the recent Pro League matches in Belgium and Netherlands after recovering from a hamstring injury, which had kept her out of action after the Tokyo Games.

Except Rani, who’s not recovered from injury, the team has all the players who were part of the Olympics campaign with inclusions like Jyoti and Sonika who have done well in their roles Janneke Schopman, India coach

She didn’t feature in the first four games of the side’s European leg of the Pro League, raising doubts about her fitness which eventually cost her a place in the World Cup-bound squad.

Besides Rampal’s exclusion, there are no further surprises as India went ahead with a tried and tested squad, which has been playing together for a long time.

The World Cup will be jointly co-hosted by the Netherlands and Spain from July 1 to 17. While Punia will continue to lead the side, Deep Grace Ekka remains her deputy. India are grouped in Pool B alongside England, New Zealand and China. They begin their campaign on July 3 against England, to whom they had lost the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the last World Cup, the Indian team made the quarterfinals before losing to Ireland in the shootout.

“We have chosen the best squad for the World Cup. It is a mix of experience and young talent who have shown great promise when they were given a chance against top teams in the FIH Pro League,” India’s chief coach Janneke Schopman said. “Except Rani, who is still not fully recovered from injury rehabilitation, the team has all the players who were part of the Olympics with inclusions like Jyoti and Sonika who have done well when given a chance. The team is excited and eager to begin their World Cup campaign,” she added. — PTI

Squad

Savita Punia (c), Bichu Devi Kharibam, Deep Grace Ekka (vc), Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Sonika, Salima Tete, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi Stand-bys: Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Sangita Kumari.