New Delhi:Hockey India on Thursday named the 20-member squad for the much-awaited FIH Women’s Junior World Cup, starting April 1 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in 2021 but got postponed to 2022 due to threat of Covid-19 variant omicron in South Africa. India, who are grouped in Pool D along with Germany, Malaysia and Wales, will be led by Salima Tete and vice-captained by Ishika Chaudhary. They will begin their campaign against Wales on April 2, followed by game against Germany on April 3 and Malaysia against April 5. The quarterfinals will be held on April 8. The semifinals are scheduled for April 10 and the final on April 12. The 20-member squad consists of goalkeepers Bichu Devi Kharibam, who recently made her senior India debut at the FIH Pro League matches against Germany, and Khushboo. The defenders include Marina Lalramnghaki, Preeti, Priyanka, Ishika Chaudhary and Akshata Abaso Dekhale, who also made her senior India debut against Germany at the recently held FIH Pro League matches in Bhubaneswar. Reet, Ajmina Kujur, Baljeet Kaur and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke will form the Indian midfield along with Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami – all three were part of the Indian team that finished fourth in the Tokyo Olympics. The forwardline will feature Lalrindiki, Jiwan Kishori Toppo, Mumtaz Khan, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika and Sangita Kumari, who also made her senior debut recently. “After a long wait our Junior players are definitely ready to start their Junior World Cup experience. It was difficult to finalize the selection as all players showed a lot of progress in the past months which is great to see,” said Janneke Schopman, the chief coach. “With a couple of players making their debut for the Senior Team in the Pro League recently, I believe that the added experience will have a positive influence. The team overall has a nice mixture of different skills and talents and am excited to see them taking on the best teams in the world at U21 level.” India’s best show in recent times was at the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup in 2013, when they finished on the podium with bronze medal after beating nemesis England in a shoot-out. Squad: Goalkeepers- Bichu Devi Kharibam, Khushboo. Defenders- Marina Lalramnghaki, Preeti, Priyanka, Ishika Chaudhary (vc), Akshata Abaso Dekhale. Midfielders- Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Salima Tete (c), Reet, Ajmina Kujur, Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami, Baljeet Kaur. Forwards- Lalrindiki, Jiwan Kishori Toppo, Mumtaz Khan, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika, Sangita Kumari. Standbys- Madhuri Kindo, Neelam, Manju Chorsiya, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Annu. UNI PN
