Indian Womens Hockey Team Announced for 2026 Asian Champions Trophy Under Salima Tetes Captaincy
Hockey India has named Salima Tete as captain for the Womens Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in Bhopal, aiming for a title hat trick.
Bhopal, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : Hockey India has officially announced the Indian women’s hockey team for the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy, set to take place from November 19 to 28 at the newly constructed International Sports Complex in Bhopal. Salima Tete, who recently led the team to a historic gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan, will captain the squad in this prestigious tournament.
Notably absent from the lineup is senior goalkeeper Savita Punia, who captained India to gold at the 2026 Asian Games. In her place, Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Khairibam will take on the goalkeeping duties.
As the defending champions, India aims to continue its impressive performance and secure a hat trick of titles, having previously won in 2016, 2023, and 2024. The tournament will feature other strong teams, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea, who have also secured the title three times.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team facing the others once. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will advance to the semifinals.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed his eagerness to showcase the players’ talents on the international stage. He plans to experiment with player positions to assess their versatility. “We are excited to play in front of our home crowd and aim for a better finish,” Marijne stated.
The opening day will see top-ranked China face Thailand, while India will kick off its campaign against Malaysia following the opening ceremony. India’s subsequent matches include games against South Korea on November 21, Thailand on November 22, China on November 24, and Japan on November 25. The semifinals are scheduled for November 27, with the final taking place on November 28.
Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India, emphasized the importance of this tournament for the team to build on their recent success. “Playing in front of home supporters will be a significant motivation, and I am confident the players will perform well and make the country proud,” he said.
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also extended his best wishes to the team, highlighting the remarkable year they have had, capped by the gold medal at the Asian Games. “As defending champions, the team is determined to maintain their winning momentum. We anticipate exciting matches and tremendous support from hockey fans across Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
The Indian women’s hockey team roster includes:
Goalkeepers: Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi Khairibam
Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu Lalthantluangi, Pooja Sahu
Midfielders: Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunita Toppo, Salima Tete (captain), Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur, Ishika
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami, Mumtaz Khan
