Indian Women’s Hockey Squad for FIH Pro League Matches: Salima Tete Named Captain, Navneet Kaur as Deputy

In a surprising move, midfielder Salima Tete has been appointed as the new captain of the Indian women’s hockey squad for the upcoming FIH Pro League matches in Belgium and England. The experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia has been replaced by Salima, with Navneet Kaur being selected as her deputy.

Salima expressed her excitement about the new role, stating, “I am happy that I have been appointed to lead the team. It is a big responsibility and I am looking forward to this new role. We have a strong squad and it’s a mix of experienced and young players.” She also mentioned that the team has been working on areas that needed improvement and is ready to put their best foot forward in the upcoming matches.

The squad for the matches in Belgium and England remains largely unchanged, with only three alterations made. Gurjit Kaur, Sonika, Nisha, and Beauty Dungdung have been replaced by Mahima Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Pretti Dubey, and Deepika Soreng.

The matches in Belgium are set to begin on May 22, followed by the England leg starting on June 1. India will face Argentina and Belgium twice in the first phase of the league.

Currently, India is placed sixth in the FIH Pro League table, with Salima recently receiving the prestigious Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year in the women’s category. The team is confident about their performance in the upcoming matches and is looking forward to showcasing their skills against quality opponents.

With a strong squad and a new leadership duo in Salima and Navneet, the Indian women’s hockey team is gearing up for an exciting and challenging campaign in the FIH Pro League. Fans can expect some thrilling performances from the team as they aim to climb up the league table and make their mark on the international stage.