Ritu Rani will lead the Indian senior women’s hockey team in the Electric Ireland Champions Challenge 1 from September 29 to October 7 in Dublin.
This will be Indian eves’ maiden assignment under chief coach Neil Hawgood and Rani said that her team is eager to compete against the sides, which had taken part in the recent Olympic Games.
“We have worked very hard during the camp in Bhopal under the supervision of coach Hawgood and Exercise Physiologist Dr Ben Dascombe. We are confident we will compete hard and do our best against quality oppositions,” said the captain.
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Defender Kirandeep Kaur has been named the vice-captain of the side.
Hawgood, who took over the reins as Indian Senior Women’s team’s coach recently, said he was looking forward to the upcoming tournament.
“I have shared my vision of enhancing an already attractive style of hockey that will balance out the attacking ability -- and that is naturally within this group -- and to have a defensive side of the game that is as well respected as our attacking side,” Hawgood said.
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Hockey India Secretary General, Narinder Batra said he was confident of the Indian eves being competitive.
“Our Junior women’s team recently won Junior Women’s Asia Cup silver for the first time and the selectors have included as many as seven players from that team in this squad.
“We are sure the team will be very competitive.”