Two Odisha players in Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team for Cantor Fitzgerald U21

Bhubaneswar: Two players from Odisha — Mariana Kujur and Ajmina Kujur — were selected in Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team for Cantor Fitzgerald U21 tournament.

They Hockey India announced their names in the 18-member squad for the International 4-Nations Tournament scheduled from May 31 till June 4 in Dublin, Ireland followed by matches against Belarus to be held in Baranovichi, Belarus.

The Indian team will first travel to Dublin, Ireland where they will play a match each against the Irish National team and Canada Junior Women’s team on 28 May and 29 May 2019, respectively, the Hockey India said in a release on Tuesday.

The Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International 4-Nations Tournament features India, Ireland, Canada and Scotland.

The team will then play yet another match against the Irish National Team on 6 June 2019 following which, the Indian Junior Women’s team will travel to Belarus to play five matches with the host nation’s Senior, Junior and Development teams starting 9 June 2019, the release said.

The Indian Junior Women’s Team will becaptained by Suman Devi Thoudam and vice-captained by Gagandeep Kaur. Bichu Devi Kharibam and Khushboo have been selected as the Goalkeepers who will guard the goal-posts, while Defenders Ishika Chaudhary, Priyanka, Mahima Choudhary, Simran Singh will join Suman Devi Thoudam and Gagandeep Kaur in the backline.

Midfielders Preeti, Mariana Kujur, Chetna, Ajmina Kujur and Baljeet Kaur will command the mid-field for India, while the forward-line will feature Mumtaz Khan, Beauty Dungdung, Sharmila Devi, Reet and Lalrindiki.

“We have a good few weeks of matches coming up in Ireland and Belarus against some of the stronger teams in the world. We have selected our team keeping in mind the challenges we are going to face there, and I am sure both the tours will help our players in gaining further experience of playing quality teams at a high intensity. I am looking forward to seeing our team excel in foreign conditions,” said Baljeet Singh, the Coach of Indian Junior Women’s Hockey team.

The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey squad:

GOALKEEPERS

1. Bichu Devi Kharibam

2. Khushboo

DEFENDERS

3. Ishika Chaudhary

4. Suman Devi Thoudam (Captain)

5. Priyanka

6. Mahima Choudhary

7. Simran Singh

8. Gagandeep Kaur (Vice-Captain)

MIDFIELDERS

9. Preeti

10. Mariana Kujur

11. Chetna

12. Ajmina Kujur

13. Baljeet Kaur

FORWARDS

14. Mumtaz Khan

15. Beauty Dungdung

16. Sharmila Devi

17. Reet

18. Lalrindiki