Former captain Rani Rampal is again into the Indian ladies’s hockey staff squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa, set to start on January sixteenth, 2023 in Cape Town.

Hockey India on Thursday introduced the squad on Thursday. The staff will play 4 matches towards South Africa, and three matches towards the Netherlands between sixteenth January 2023 and twenty eighth January 2023.

Goalkeeper Savita has been named the captain for the event with skilled campaigner Navneet Kaur as her deputy. While Rampal can be making a return to the squad since FIH Women’s Hockey Pro League 2021/22 match towards Belgium, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, who led the Indian ladies’s junior staff on the Uniphar U-23 5 Nations Tournament 2022 in May, has obtained her maiden name for the senior staff.

The staff consists of Bichu Devi Kharibam within the squad together with Savita as goalkeepers whereas Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary, Udita, and Gurjit Kaur have been named because the defenders within the staff.

Apart from Phalke, the midfield will characteristic Nisha, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu, Monika, Neha, Sonika, and Baljeet Kaur, who can be returning to the squad since making her senior debut within the FIH Women’s Hockey Pro League 2021/22 match towards Belgium.

Along with Rani and Navneet Kaur, the ahead line consists of the skilled Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Sangita Kumari, Beauty Dungdung, Reena Khokhar, and Sharmila Devi.

Speaking on the tour, chief coach Janneke Schopman stated, “The South Africa tour is a brilliant opportunity for us to build on our performance of the Nations Cup. Playing both South Africa as well as The Netherlands on this tour provides us with everything we need to learn about ourselves come the Asian Games.”

“Playing the World number 1 Netherlands will most likely expose our vulnerabilities and will also show where we are with our performance and growth. Playing South Africa, where we most likely will have more of the ball, will give us the opportunity to improve in ball possession areas,” she added.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Savita (captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam.

Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Gurjit Kaur Midfielders: Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, P. Sushila Chanu, Nisha, Salima Tete, Monika, Neha, Sonika, Baljeet Kaur.

Forwards: Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur (vice-captain, Vandana Katariya, Sangita Kumari, Beauty Dungdung, Rani Rampal, Reena Khokhar, Sharmila Devi.

Schedule

January 16: South Africa vs India

January 17: South Africa vs India

January 19: South Africa vs India

January 21: South Africa vs India

January 22: Netherlands vs India

January 27: Netherlands vs India

January 28: Netherlands vs India

All matches will start at 6.30 PM IST: