More Sports Hockey Hockey Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi get Olympic Qualifiers camp call-up Two back-to-back games against USA will be played in Bhubaneswar in November with the winner on aggregate booking a ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Uthra Ganesan New Delhi 12 October, 2019 14:40 IST This would be the first time the team would be playing in Bhubaneswar, which has seen several major men’s tournaments in recent years. - K. Murali Kumar Uthra Ganesan New Delhi 12 October, 2019 14:40 IST The Indian women’s hockey team would kick-off the final phase of its preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar with the coaching camp beginning Monday.The two back-to-back games against USA would be played at the same venue on November 1 and 2 with the winner on aggregate booking a ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Hockey India on Saturday named a 22-member squad for the camp, which would be pruned to 16. While most of the senior team members figure in the list, the selectors have also called up youngsters including Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi and Jyoti for the camp. READ : Savita: 'We have a well-settled team going into the Olympic qualifiers'Incidentally, this would be the first time the team would be playing in Bhubaneswar, which has seen several major men’s tournaments in recent years. It would also be the first home game for the side after two years, the last time being a five match test series against Belarus in March 2017. The last competitive outing for the side at home, though, was the SAF Games in 2016. Hockey India announced a list of 22 players for the Senior Women's National Coaching Camp ahead of the all-important FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Odisha. The Camp is scheduled to be held at the Kalinga Stadium from 14th October 2019: https://t.co/5qqMV6ZEtW#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/rOB8ANKMU8— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 12, 2019 “There is a lot of excitement among players to compete in Bhubaneswar. It is important for the team to get used to the pitch and we are also looking at playing practice matches amongst ourselves which we have requested should be open for public to come and watch. It will not only boost our confidence but it will also help us prepare better,” coach Sjoerd Marijne said. India had recently toured England for a five match series against the reigning Olympic champion – although details about the first two games of the tour are sketchy – winning and losing one game each while drawing the remaining three. The squad: Savita, Rajini Etimarpu, Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Gurjit Kaur, Udita, Nikki Pradhan, Nisha, Sushila Chanu, Monika, Lilima Minz, Neha Goyal, Namita Toppo, Sonika, Rani, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Navjot Kaur, Sharmila Devi, Jyoti, Vandana Katariya. Subscribe to our daily newsletter Get your daily dose of Sportstar with handpicked stories delivered right to your inbox! SUBSCRIBE Please enter a valid email address.
Related India hold Great Britain to 2-2 draw in last tour match Lalremsiami's strike helps India hold Britain to 1-1 draw Indian women’s hockey team plays out goalless draw with Britain Graham Reid: India men's hockey team needs to get a little more consistent Olympic Qualifiers: Muhammad Rizwan senior named Pakistan captain Tokyo 2020 Hockey India