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Savita Returns! India Faces Argentina Without Captain Tete
12 Apr
Summary
- Goalkeeper Savita Punia returns after a 10-month personal break.
- Captain Salima Tete will miss the series due to chickenpox recovery.
- The tour serves as crucial preparation for major upcoming tournaments.
Star goalkeeper Savita Punia is set to return to the national women's hockey team, marking her first appearance in 10 months after taking a personal break. However, captain Salima Tete will be sidelined for the upcoming four-match series against Argentina, commencing on Monday, as she recovers from chickenpox.
Navneet Kaur will lead the squad as captain in the absence of Tete. The series provides essential preparation for India's campaigns in the FIH Nations Cup, the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands in 2026, and the Asian Games later this year. Coach Sjoerd Marijne plans to utilize the tour to experiment with team combinations and assess individual and team performance against the world's second-ranked side. The team trained in Bengaluru before departing for Argentina. The experienced lineup includes players like Nikki Pradhan, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Ishika Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Jyoti, and Udita in defense, while Neha will anchor the midfield alongside Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Sunelita Toppo. Offensive options will be provided by Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Mumtaz Khan, and Annu.
