Women’s Hockey Team for Tokyo Olympics Announced, Deep Grace Ekka from Odisha in the Squad

New Delhi: Hockey India on Thursday announced the final list of 16-member women’s hockey squad for the  much awaited Tokyo Olympics next month.

The team has a balance of players comprising eight veterans players who had the experience of playing in Rio Olympics 2016 and eight new players. 

Deep Grace Ekka (defender) is the only player from Odisha to be selected in the squad as a veteran player, while Namita Toppo is the standby player for the team.

The final squad includes the eight stalwarts Rani Rampal, Savita Punia (goalkeeper), Deep Grace Ekka, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika Malik, Nikki Pradhan, Navjot Kaur and Vandana Katariya who had the experience of playing Rio Olympics 2016.

The eight new players include drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur, Udita, Nisha, Neha Goyal, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami and Salima Tete.

Salima Tete has the experience of leading the Indian squad in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games at Buenos Aires.

The team is preparing at the ongoing camp at SAI Centre Bengaluru.