Hockey India today named a 20-member Indian team, including two Alternate Players for the FIH Women Hockey World Cup to be held in Netherlands and Spain from 1 to 17 July 2022. The Indian team will be captained by goalkeeper Savita and vice-captained by Odisha defender Deep Grace Ekka.

India grouped in Pool-B along with England, New Zealand and China will begin their campaign on 3 July against nemesis England, to whom they lost the bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In the previous edition of the prestigious quadrennial event held in London, the Indian Team entered the quarterfinals but lost to Ireland in a shootout after 0-0 stalemate in regulation time. Ireland, who ousted India 3-1 in the shootout, went on to play the final of the World Cup and ended their campaign with a silver medal.

Speaking about the team selection, Chief Coach Janneke Schopman said, "Except Rani, who is still not fully recovered from injury rehabilitation, the team has all the players who were part of the Olympic campaign with inclusions like Jyoti and Sonika who have done well in their roles when given a chance. We will also have Sangita and Akshata who will travel with the team as replacement players.”

The Indian team will play their group stage matches in Amstelveen, Netherlands and if they top the group, they will play the quarter-finals too in Amstelveen before the team moves to Terrassa, Spain for the semifinals and final basis qualification in the knockout stage. The crossover matches for pool B will be played in Spain.

INDIAN WOMEN TEAM FOR FIH WOMEN WORLD CUP: Goalkeepers: Savita (Captain), Bichu Devi Kharibam. Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (Vice-Captain), Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita. Midfielders: Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika, Neha, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Sonika, Salima Tete. Forwards: Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi.
Replacement Players: Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Sangita Kumari.