Veteran star and former captain Rani Rampal returns to international hockey as Hockey India on Thursday announced the Indian women’s hockey team for the upcoming tour of South Africa which will kick off on January 16, 2023 in Cape Town.

The veteran striker will be back in the squad for the first time since the 2021/22 FIH Women’s Hockey Pro League match against Belgium,

Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, who led the Indian junior women’s team at the Uniphar U23 5 Nations Tournament 2022 in May, has received her first call-up to the senior team.

READ ALSO | Hockey tour in South Africa Great preparation for the Asian Games: Janneke Schopman

At the circuit, India, which recently won the inaugural edition of the FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2022 in Valencia, will play four matches against South Africa, and three matches against the Netherlands between 16 and 38 January 2023.

Goalkeeper Savita continues to be tour captain with experienced campaigner Navneet Kaur as co-captain of the team.

Speaking during the tour, said the head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team Janneke Schopman. “The South Africa Tour is a great opportunity for us to build on our Nations Cup form. Playing in South Africa and the Netherlands on this tour gave us everything we needed to learn about ourselves ahead of the Asian Games.”

“Playing as world number 1 in the Netherlands will most likely expose our vulnerability and also show where we are with our performance and growth. Playing in South Africa, where we will most likely have more of the ball, will give us the opportunity to improve possession,” he added.

Indian women’s hockey team:

Goalkeepers: Savita (Captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam; Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary. Gurjit Kaur; Midfielders: Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, P. Sushila Chanu, Nisha, Salima Tete, Monika, Neha, Sonika, Baljeet Kaur; Forwards: Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur (Deputy Captain), Vandana Katariya, Sangita Kumari, Beauty Dungdung, Rani, Reena Khokhar, Sharmila Devi

South Africa Tour Schedule (All matches will start at 18.30 IST):

January 16, 2023: South Africa vs India

January 17: South Africa vs India

January 19: South Africa vs India

January 21: South Africa vs India

January 22: Netherlands vs India

January 27: Netherlands vs India

January 28: Netherlands v India.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)