New Delhi, 15 October 2016: The Indian Junior Women’s team is geared up for the 5 – Nations International Junior Hockey Tournament from 24th – 30th October 2016 at Valencia, Spain.

Talented midfielder Sonika will lead the 20-member team announced by Hockey India today while Rashmita Minz will be her deputy. Divya Thepe and Sonal Minj will be the goalkeepers for the tournament and the defence line-up includes Ritu, Gagandeep Kaur, Mahima Choudhary, Asmita Barla and Salima Tete.

The midfield will include the three Kaurs – Manpreet, Navneet and Navpreet Kaur apart from Karishma Yadav and Udita. Meanwhile, Alka Dungdung, Jyoti, Puja Yadav, Amrinder Kaur will form the forwardline.

The Indian eves will face a tough challenge in the tournament and will play against the best teams in European includingGermany, England, Spain and Belgium.

“This tournament will be good exposure for the women’s team as we play top European teams and for many this is their first international exposure. The athletes have been undergoing rigorous training camps in SAI, Bhopal and have been also closely watched by Indian Women Hockey Team Chief Coach Neil Hawgood,” stated Baljeet Singh Saini, Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team Coach.

SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Divya Thepe, Sonal Minj
Defenders
Salima Tete, Asmita Barla, Rashmita Minz (Vice-Captain), Ritu, Mahima Choudhary, Gagandeep Kaur
Midfielders
Udita, Manpreet Kaur, Karishma Yadav, Navpreet Kaur, Sonika (Captain), Navneet Kaur
Forwards
Jyoti, Puja Yadav, Alka Dungdung, Sangita Kumari, Amrinder Kaur, Jyoti Gupta