Hockey India names 33-member squad for National Camp, Rani Rampal omitted

Hockey India on Saturday named a 33-member Core Probables Group for the Senior Women's National Coaching Camp, which will be held from 9th April to 13th May 2023 at SAI, Bengaluru.

The camp will help players put in the hard yards to fine-tune their strategies and combinations further ahead of the Indian Women's Hockey Team's tour to Australia as a preparatory event ahead of the Asian Games in China.

It was a surprise as Rani Rampal was ignored for the national camp. The 28-year-old has missed out on the camp and it will be a massive setback for the veteran. Rampal, who has 120 goals in 254 matches for India, will be gutted by the omission as she has been denied an opportunity for India again.

The Core Group for the National Camp includes goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam and Bansari Solanki. Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur were among the defenders named in the national camp.

"After the last camp in which we were able to establish our baseline for the needed physical output and addressed individual improvements, we're looking to improve our team structure and tactics. Playing Australia in Australia at the end of this camp will help us assess where we are compared to the top of women's hockey," said Indian Women's Hockey Team Chief Coach Janneke Schopman.

Indian Women's Hockey Senior Team Core Group

Goalkeepers: Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, and Bansari Solanki.

Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Jyoti Chhatri, and Mahima Chaudhary.

Midfielders: Nisha, Salima Tete, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Monika, Mariana Kujur, Sonika, Neha, Baljeet Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Vaishnavi Phalke, and Ajmina Kujur.

Forwards: Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Sharmila Devi, Deepika, Sangita Kumari, Mumtaz Khan, and Sunelita Toppo.