Rani Rampal to lead 20-member Indian women’s hockey team for New Zealand tour

The Indian women’s hockey team, who will soon be facing New Zealand, beginning on January 25 in Auckland will be lead by Rani Rampal.

The 20-member squad named goalkeeper Savita as Rani’s deputy during the tour. 

India’s first match of the tour is against the New Zealand Development squad on January 25, followed by games against the New Zealand women’s team on January 27 and 29.

The women will also play Great Britain on February 4 and then conclude the tour with another match against the New Zealand women’s team on February 5.

Talking about the tour, India’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne told PTI, “I want to use this tour to create more competition within this group. Although we are taking a 20-member team, in some matches we will use only 16 players because we play with 16 players at the Olympics and in some matches, we will play 18 members. 

The players have to show their best and I want to see how they perform under pressure and stay in the right rhythm.”

He added that the matches against world No. 5 Great Britain and world No. 6 New Zealand will provide a great opportunity to the Indian women to showcase their talent.

Squad: Rani (captain), Savita (vice-captain), Rajini Etimarpu, Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu, Nisha, Namita Toppo, Udita, Monika, Lilima Minz, Neha, Sonika, Sharmila Devi, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Navjot Kaur.