Women’s Junior Asia Cup: The Indian junior women’s hockey team left for the prestigious Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 from Kempegowda International Airport on Tuesday morning. The tournament, which serves as a qualifying event for the FIH Junior World Cup, will take place in Muscat, Oman, from December 7 to December 15.
India’s Group Stage Opponents
The Indian team is placed in Pool A, where they will face China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Pool B consists of South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka.
Defending Champions Led By Experienced Squad
As the defending champions, India’s campaign will be led by captain Jyoti Singh and vice-captain Sakshi Rana. The squad also includes players with senior team experience, such as Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Sunelita Toppo, Mumtaz Khan, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdung. The team is coached by former India captain Tushar Khandker.
Confidence And Determination Ahead Of The Tournament
“We are very confident and upbeat about our campaign. We have a good, experienced team. We have worked hard over the past few months, and the team is quite eager to do our best in Muscat, Oman,” expressed captain Jyoti Singh before their departure.
Support For Indian Men’s Team And Call For Fan Support
Vice-captain Sakshi Rana shared her excitement about the Indian junior men’s team entering the knockout stage, stating, “We have been following their matches and we will be there to cheer for them in the remaining matches. We urge Indian hockey fans to watch us play and cheer for us.” Rana also expressed hope for support from the Indian community in Muscat.
India’s First Match Against Bangladesh
India will kick off their Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 campaign with a match against Bangladesh on December 8, scheduled for 20:30 hrs IST.
