Indian Senior Women Hockey Team, featuring Odisha duo Deep Grace Ekka and Jyoti Chhatri, ended their Tour of Germany on a sour note, losing all of three Test matches, in cluding two against host Germany in Frankfurt.
In the third and last match yesterday, India went down 2-0 against Germany. Indian women started the tour with a 2-3 loss to China on 16 July and the then suffered a 4-1 thrashing against Germay in the second match on July 18.
Navneet Kaur scored both the goals for India. Odisha defender Deep Grace Ekka and midfielder Jyoti Chhatri are parts of the 20-member Indian ream, which is also scheduled to compete in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation- International Tournament in Spain.
The tours of Germany and Spain would be part of the preparations ahead of the all-important Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. Indian team is being led by goalkeeper Savita Punia with Deep Grace as her deputy.
After proving her mettle as a junior international Jyoti Chhatri made it to the Senior India team for the first time. However, Jyoti was made to wait for her senior international debut as she did not get chance to play any of the three matches.
Former inmate of Government Sports Hostel, Panposh (Rourkela), Jyoti was part of the Indian Junior Women Team that won the gold medal for the first time in the Junior Asia Cup last month in Kakamigahara, Japan.
During their tour to Spain, where they will play against South Africa, England, and hosts from 25 to the 30 July in Terrassa in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation-International Tournament.
INDIAN TEAM: Goalkeepers: Savita Punia (captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam. Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (Vice-Captain), Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary, Udita, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam. Midfielders: Nisha, Monika, Salima Tete, Neha, Navneet Kaur, Sonika, Baljeet Kaur, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Jyoti Chhatri. Forwards: Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Sangita Kumari, Deepika. Chief Coach: Janneke Schopman.
RESULTS:
16 July (1st Test, Frankfurt): India (Navneet Kaur 24th, 45th) lost to China (Chen Jiali 9th, Zhong Jiaqi 45th, Xu Yanan 51st) 2-3.
18 July (2nd Test, Frankfurt): India (Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke 29-PC) lost to Germany (Nike Lorenz 6-PC, 59-FG; Jette Fleschütz 14-PS, 43-PC) 1-4.
19 July (3rd Test, Frankfurt): India lost to Germany (Nike Lorenz 52-PC, Charlotte Stapenhorst 54-FG) 0-2.
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PHOTO: Odisha duo, Deep Grace Ekka (Left) and Jyoti Chhatri express their joy after being selected in the Senior India Women Hockey Team for a tour of Germany and Spain.