Chanu to lead India

Chanu to lead India

New Delhi, March 17: Goalkeeper Tingongleima Chanu will lead the 16-member Indian women's hockey team that will take part in the Sydney Olympics qualifying tournament to be held at Milton Keynes, England, from March 24 to April 2.

India have been placed in Pool A alongwith Germany, Ireland, Spain and the US while Russia, China, New Zealand, Japan and Britain have been lodged in Pool B, an Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) release here on Friday said.

India will be without star forward Pritam Rani Siwatch, besides Nidhi Khullar, Manjinder Kaur, Sandeep Kaur and Sita Gussain.

The TEAM: Tingongleima Chanu, Helen Mary, Amandeep Kaur, Marystella Tirkey, Sunita Dalal, Suraj Lata, Sumrai Tete, Neha Singh, Kamla Dalal, Mamta Kharab, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Ferdina Ekka, Surinder Kaur, Kanti Baa, Pakpi Devi, Manorama Goswami.

Chief coach: GS Bhangu. Asst coach: Jaswinder Singh. Manager: Rupa Saini Doctor: Ashok Ahuja.

Groupings: Pool A: Germany, India, Ireland, Spain, USA

Pool B: China, Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Russia.

Itinerary

League matches: March 24: India vs Spain, Germany vs USA, Russia vs China, New Zealand vs Japan. March 25: India vs Ireland, Spain vs Germany, Britain vs Russia, China vs New Zealand. March 26: USA vs Ireland, Japan vs Britain. March 27: India vs Germany, Russia vs New Zealand. March 28: Spain vs USA, Germany vs Ireland, China vs Japan, New Zealand vs Britain. March 29: India vs USA, Ireland vs Spain, Japan vs Russia, Britain vs China. March 30: Rest day.

Classification matches: March 31: 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B, 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool B, 2nd pool A vs 1st Pool B, 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B.

April 1: 9th/ 10th place play-off, 7th/ 8th place, 5th/ 6th place.

April 2: 3rd/4th place play-off; Final.