DESCRIPTION:
*     Hockey India has announced an 18-member India senior women team, including four from Odisha for the above-mentioned tournament.
*     The team will be led by Deepika.
*     Odisha players are: Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Namita Toppo and Lilima Minz.
*     The tournament that is being seen as an important stop on the road to the 2016 Rio Olympics from the preparation point of view.
*     India, currently ranked 13th according to the latest FIH world rankings has been grouped in Pool B with New Zealand (4th), China (5th) and Ireland (15th).
*     Apart from India, both New Zealand and China have also qualified for the Olympics.
*     Pool A consists of Australia, Korea, Japan and Canada.
*     The pool league matches will determine the seeding for the quarter-finals with all eight teams proceeding to the knock-out stage.
*     The challenge for the Indian team would be to improve upon their seventh-place finish they achieved last year.
*     India will take on the formidable Black Sticks in their opening encounter on 2 April 2016 before going up against Ireland on 3rd April and China on 5th April.
*     Training under the vigilant eyes of Chief Coach Neil Hawgood, the Indian eves will be aiming to put up an improved show in the tournament and further fuel their spirit ahead of the most crucial 2016 Rio Olympics.

TEAM INDIA:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Rajani Etimarpu. Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Deepika (Captain), Sunita Lakra, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (Vice-captain), H Lalruatfeli, Namita Toppo, Nikki Pradhan. Mid-fielders: Lilima Minz, Navjot Kaur, Monika, Preeti Dubey. Forwards: Rani, Poonam Rani, Vandana Kataria, Anuradha Devi Thokchom, Sonika.