Hockey in Odisha suffered a major setback today as none from the State found a berth in the 18-member Indian Women Team for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Ranchi, Jharkhand from 13 to 19 January 2024.

This is perhaps for the first time in more than two decades that the presence of Odisha players in the Indian women hockey team became zero. This happened when Odisha hockey legend Dilip Tirkey was functioning as the president of Hockey India, Government of Odisha was sponsoring the Indian hockey teams and spending thousands of crores in creating world class infrastructure and hosting one after another international tournaments.

In the Ranchi Olympic Qualifiers, India will take the field with the aim to finish as one of the top three teams in the competition and secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

India have been placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Italy and the United States. Germany, Japan, Chile and Czech Republic will battle it out in Pool A. India will open their campaign against the United States on January 13, followed by a match against New Zealand on January 14. India will go up against Italy in their last Pool B match on January 16.

Seasoned Indian custodian Savita, who recently won her third consecutive FIH Goalkeeper of the Year Award, will once again be leading the squad. Meanwhile, veteran forward Vandana Katariya, who recently became the first-ever women player from India to complete 300 caps, has been named as Savita’s deputy for the all-important tournament.

INDIAN WOMEN HOCKEY TEAM: Goalkeepers: Savita (Captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam. Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Ishika Chaudhary, Monika. Midfielders: Nisha, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Neha, Navneet Kaur, Salima Tete, Sonika, Jyoti, Beauty Dungdung. Forwards: Lalremsiami, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Vandana Katariya. Chief Coach: Janneke Schopman.