Namita Toppo completes 100 International Hockey Caps for India

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 10 August 2016: India’s game against Australia today saw defender Namita Toppo complete 100 International matches for the country.

The 21-year-old has proved to be an important member in the India Women Hockey team putting up a strong performance and a testament to her consistency that she will complete her 100 International caps in a period of four years.

A product of the famed Sundargarh belt, which has churned out several legends for Indian hockey, Namita made her debut in the 2012 FIH Champions Challenge 1 in Dublin, Ireland. Since then she has represented the country in major events including the FIH World League Round 2, 2013 held in India, 8th Women’s Asia Cup 2013 in Malaysia, 3rd Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, 2013 in Japan, FIH Champions Challenge 1, 2014 in Glasgow, the Commonwealth Games 2014 and is now an integral part of the Olympic team in Rio.

She was also part of the Indian team which bagged the historic Bronze medal in the Hockey Junior Women World Cup, 2013 in Germany and a Bronze at the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014.

Congratulating her, Md. Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India said, “My congratulations to Namita for the milestone. The fact that it comes at the biggest stage of all, the Olympics is a matter of great pride for all of us. Her role as a defender has been one of extreme importance for the team. Despite her young age, she has always performed with great maturity in the team, a trait we look forward to seeing more of in the years to come, as well at the Olympics in Rio.”