New Delhi: Seven players from Odisha — Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita lakra, Rashmita Minz, Lilima Minz, Namita Toppo, Birajani Ekka and Anupa Barla have been included Saturday in the 48-member India women’s hockey team core probables for the national Camp to begin at Bangalore October 1. Grace Ekka, Sunita, Lilima and Namita were part of the Indian team that finished second in the Jakarta Asiad recently.
The Camp includes recent Arjuna Awardee Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Swati, Chanchal, Sonal Minj and Jaspreet Kaur as goalkeepers. Among the defenders Grace Ekka, Sunita, Sushila Chanu Phukhrambam, Gurjit Kaur, Rashmita, Suman Devi Thoudam, Deepika, Neelu Dadiya, Mahima Choudhary, Kanika Raj, Manmeet Kaur, SP Kruthika and Nisha have been called up for the Camp.
The midfielders include Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Lilima, Namita, Neha Goyal, Udita, Manpreet Kaur, Jyoti, Maitri Ramwala, Anuja Singh, Anajali HR, Shyama Tidgam, Sonika, Puja Yadav and Karishma Yadav.
The probables also include members from the Asian Games silver-medal winning team. Skipper Rani, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Rajwinder Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Anupa, Priyanka Wankhede, Preeti Dubey, Reena Khokhar, Siddhi Singh, Leelavathy Mallamada Jaya, Soundarya Yendela and Birajani are among the forwards to have been asked to report for the camp.
While the team will approach the next season with an eye on the qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, this national Camp will be more about finding the depth and in the group and the right mix of players for the upcoming International calendar.
Speaking about the camp, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said: “We will be observing each of these players closely during this camp and see how the competition is within the group. Special attention will be on the newcomers as to how they gel with the rest. The seniors too will have to work hard to earn their place in the core group.”
Marijne further added that special emphasis will be given on strength conditioning while some of the senior players will be put through rehab and recovery after a long and testing past few months with back-to-back events.
“Some of our senior players have played continuously throughout the year and naturally they will be carrying some niggles from playing back-to-back events so this camp will also help these players in rehab, recovery and improving overall fitness,” the Dutchman added.
TOPS boost for eves hockey
New Delhi: Indian women’s hockey team received a major boost, Sunday as all the members are set to be included in the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) when the review committee identifies the core group next month for the government-funded programme. The decision comes in after the women player’s impressive silver medal finish at the recently concluded Jakarta Asian Games. According to an official from Sports Authority of India (SAI), the decision of including the women’s team was taken after repeated requests from Hockey India (HI).