Asian Champions Trophy: Savita will be the captain of the Indian hockey team, Rani rested
Goalkeeper Savita Poonia will lead the 18-member Indian team for the Women's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy. Regular captain Rani Rampal has been rested for next month's tournament.
Sunil Shukla 
Goalkeeper Savita Poonia will lead the 18-member Indian team for the Women's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy. Regular captain Rani Rampal has been rested for next month's tournament. This competition will be played from December 5 to 12 in Donghai, South Korea.
India has to start the campaign on the very first day. China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia are also participating in the tournament. This year's FIH best goalkeeper, Savita will lead the tournament. Defender Deep Grace will be the ace vice-captain.
Tokyo Olympics forward Lalremsiami and Sharmila Devi and midfielder Salima Tete are also not on the team. All three are part of the junior team, which will play the FIH World Cup in South Africa from December 5.
Namita Toppo and Lilima Minz are included in the team. The forward row will be commanded by two-time Olympians Vandana Kataria and Navneet Kaur. Rajwinder Kaur, Mariana Kujur and Sonika are in the team with him.
Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Nisha, Monica, Neha, and Jyoti are in the midfield. Navjot Kaur and Suman Devi are alternate players and they will get a chance if any of the 18-member team is injured or corona infected.
Speaking about the team, head coach Yanke Schopman said, "We have picked a good team for the Women's Asian Champions Trophy despite some players getting injured and senior players joining the junior team." India has to play Thailand on December 5 and Malaysia on the next day. After this, on December 8, defending champion Korea has to face and then China and Japan. The final will be played on December 12 between the top two teams of the pool. The Indian team had lost to Korea in the final last time.
The team is as follows -
Goalkeepers: Savita (Captain), Rajni E
Defenders: Deep Grace Ace, Udita, Nikki Pradhan, Gurjit Kaur
Midfielders: Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Namita Toppo, Monica, Neha, Jyothi, Lilima Minz
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Vandana Kataria, Rajwinder Kaur, Mariana Kujur, Sonika.
