Indian women for inaugural Champions Challenge

An 18-member Indian women's hockey team will participate in the inaugural Champions Challenge Trophy to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from February 9 to 17.

A title triumph in the tournament, fashioned on the lines of the men's Champions Challenge trophy, will provide the Indian women an opportunity to make it to the prestigious Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held at Macau, China, from August 23 to September 1.

In their lead-up to the Champions Challenge tournament, the Indian team will play warm-up matches in Kenya from February 1 to 6, an Indian Women's Hockey Federation statement said.

While the team is already announced, the skipper, said IWHF secretary Amrit Bose, will be named after consultation with federation president Vidya Stokes in a couple of days.

The team: Tingongleima Chanu, Amandeep Kaur, Suman Bala, Suraj Lata Devi, Sita Gussain, Sumrai Tete, Nidhi Mukesh Kumar, Surinder Kaur, Pritam Siwach, Mamta Kharab, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Helen Mary, Pushpa Pradhan, Masira Surin, Agnecia Lugun, Pakpi Devi, Shahina Kispotta, Sanggai Ibemhal Chanu.

Coach: P Madhukaran; Manager: Rupa Saini.