Salima Tete to Lead India at Women’s Asian Champions Trophy as Savita Punia Misses Out
Hockey India have named their squad for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal, and the biggest talking point isn’t who’s in it. It’s who’s not.
Savita Punia, the goalkeeper who captained India to Asian Games gold in Japan last month and made the penalty-stroke save against China that booked a direct ticket to LA 2028, is not in the 20-player squad. Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam will share the goalkeeping duties instead.
Salima Tete keeps the captain’s armband. She led the side through the Asian Games triumph and now leads them into their first tournament since that gold, on home turf, as defending champions.
This is a squad picked with one eye on the future. Head coach Sjoerd Marijne said as much when the squad was announced.
“This is the moment I want to give other players the chance to showcase their talent on the international stage. Some players will be playing in different positions than they normally do, so that I can see how they perform in a different role,” Marijne said. “We are excited to play in front of the home crowd and finish the year well.”
A title to defend, and a hat-trick to chase
India have won this tournament three times, in 2016, 2023 and 2024. Win it again in Bhopal and that’s three in a row. South Korea are the only other side with three titles, so the history of this competition is basically a two-team story, and India are writing the latest chapter at home.
The tournament runs from 19 to 28 November at the newly built International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal. Six teams play a round robin, each side meeting the other five once, and the top four go through to the semi-finals on 27 November. The medal matches are on 28 November.
India open against Malaysia on 19 November, after the opening ceremony. Asia’s top-ranked side China get the tournament underway earlier that day against Thailand. Then it’s South Korea on 21 November, Thailand on 22 November, China on 24 November and Japan on 25 November. The 20th, 23rd and 26th are rest days.
The squad in full
Goalkeepers: Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu, Lalthantluangi, Pooja Sahoo
Midfielders: Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (captain), Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur, Ishika
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami, Mumtaz Khan
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey called the tournament “an important opportunity for our team to carry forward the momentum of their historic Asian Games triumph”, and said playing in front of home supporters would be a great motivation.
For our money, the Savita call is the story here. Resting your most decorated player, your Asian Games winning captain, for a home title defence is a bold move. It only makes sense if Marijne is serious about building depth before the Pro League season and the road to LA 2028. If Solanki or Kharibam shine in Bhopal, the gamble pays off twice over. If India wobble, the questions will write themselves.
