Pooja Sahoo’s First India Call-Up Caps a Rapid Rise Into the Women’s ACT Squad
There’s always one name on a squad list that makes people sit up. This time it’s Pooja Sahoo.
The Odisha defender has earned her first call-up to the senior Indian women’s team, named in the 20-member squad Hockey India announced on 10 November for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal. For a player coming through the state system in Odisha, one of Indian hockey’s great nurseries, it’s the kind of selection that changes a career overnight.
Sahoo comes in as one of six defenders, alongside Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu and Lalthantluangi. It’s a big stage to walk onto. India are the defending champions and three-time winners of this tournament, in 2016, 2023 and 2024, and they’ll be playing at home in front of their own crowd at the newly built International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda. No easing in gently.
A new-look India, and a big gap to fill
The headline change in this squad is the one everyone will be talking about. Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia has been rested, and Bansari Solanki steps in alongside Bichu Devi Kharibam between the posts. Savita captained India to their historic Asian Games gold in Japan last month, including a crucial penalty-stroke save against China that sealed direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. That’s a huge presence to replace, even for one tournament.
Salima Tete keeps the captain’s armband and leads a side packed with familiar names. Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami and Mumtaz Khan lead the attack, and the midfield has Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunelita Toppo, Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur and Ishika Chaudhary. Head coach Sjoerd Marijne has talked about using this tournament to experiment, trying players in different roles, and a debutant defender fits that plan perfectly.
This is India’s first international tournament since that Asian Games triumph, so the mood around the camp should be good. But the ACT has a habit of humbling favourites, and China, Japan and Korea are all in the field. India open against Malaysia on 19 November, then face South Korea on 21 November, Thailand on 22 November, China on 24 November and Japan on 25 November. The semi-finals are on 27 November, with the medal matches on 28 November.
For Sahoo, the job is simple and brutally hard at the same time: make the most of every minute she gets. Debutants in home tournaments either freeze or fly, and there’s no middle ground. If she handles the step up, she won’t just be a squad name anymore. She’ll be part of the group Marijne builds around for the next cycle.
For our money, the Savita-sized hole in goal is the real story of this squad, but Sahoo is the one to watch. Indian hockey keeps producing defenders from Odisha, and this one has just been handed her chance on the biggest stage in Asia.
