New Delhi: Hockey India on Monday named the 18-member Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team who will vie for honors at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup South Africa 2021.
Two players from Odisha have found their place in the team. The players are Ajmina Kujur and Jiwan Kishori Toppo.
The event slated to begin on 05 December will witness 16 top teams from across the globe battle for the title which was previously won by Argentina in 2016.
India’s best performance in this prestigious event came in 2013 where they won the Bronze medal after beating England.
The Indian Junior Women’s Team will see Lalremsiami, who was part of India’s historic performance at the Tokyo Olympics where the Senior Women finished fourth, Captain the squad while defender Ishika Chaudhary will shoulder the responsibility of Vice Captain.
The 18-member team also includes Salima Tete and Sharmila Devi who were part of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team at the Tokyo Olympics. The team also includes Bichu Devi Kharibam, Khushboo, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Priyanka, Marina Lalramnghaki, Ajmina Kujur, Baljeet Kaur, Reet, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika, Mumtaz Khan, Sangita Kumari, Jiwan Kishori Toppo.
India, who are grouped in Pool C, begins their campaign on 6th December against Russia. They will take on defending champions Argentina on 7th December in their second match in the round robin league, followed by their match against Japan on 9th December.
The knockout matches will take place between 10th December and 16th December as the teams will look to become the Champions of the prestigious quadrennial event. The teams in the fray include the Netherlands, Korea, Ireland, Zimbabwe in Pool A, England, Belgium, Canada and Uruguay in Pool B. Argentina, India, Japan and Russia in Pool C while Germany, Spain, United States and South Africa are in Pool D.
List of India U-21 Team:
1. Bichu Devi Kharibam (GK)
2. Khushboo (GK)
3. Akshata Abaso Dhekale
4. Ishika Chaudhary (VC)
5. Priyanka
6. Marina Lalramnghaki
7. Ajmina Kujur
8. Baljeet Kaur
9. Reet
10. Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke
11. Salima Tete
12. Sharmila Devi
13. Lalremsiami (C)
14. Beauty Dungdung
15. Deepika
16. Mumtaz Khan
17. Sangita Kumari
18. Jiwan Kishori Toppo