Ritu Rani to captain Indian women's Asiad hockey team

Ritu Rani (left)

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS)

Midfielder Ritu Rani will skipper the Indian women's hockey team at the Asian Games to be held from 19^th September to 4^th October in the South Korean city of Incheon.

Hockey India (HI) selectors B.P. Govinda, Harbinder Singh and Surinder Kaur along with director, high performance, Roelant Oltmans and chief coach Neil Hawgood selected the 16-member contingent based on their performances at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and selection trials conducted in Patiala on 10^th August.

Defender Deepika (131 caps) will be Ritu's deputy.

India will take on Thailand in their first group match Sep 22, followed by China Sep 24 and Malaysia Sep 26.

"The team has been practicing thoroughly all this while and are in their best form currently. The girls are in uplifted spirits and we expect a really high level of game from them. They are looking forward to a tough fight against all the teams and are aiming for a top finish in the pool matches," Hawgood said.

The team is currently training here and will depart for Incheon Sep 13.

The squad:

Goalkeeper: Savita (84 Caps)

Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (62), Deepika (131) (vice-captain), Sunita Lakra (30), Namita Toppo (51), Jaspreet Kaur (62), Sushila Chanu (76), Monika (12)

Midfielders: Ritu Rani (184) (captain), Lilima Minz (33), Amandeep Kaur (9), Chanchan Devi Thokchom (105)

Forwards: Rani (116), Poonam Rani (118), Vandana Katariya (104), Navjot Kaur (27).