A 20-member Indian squad, including three from Odisha, was announced today by Hockey for the 11th FIH Womens Junior Hockey World Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in Santiago, Chile from 1 to 13 December 2025. The three Odisha players are: goalkeeper Engil Harsha Rani Minz, defender Puja Sahoo and mid-fielder Sunelita Toppo.

The Indian squad features 18 players and two alternates. India have been placed in Pool C, alongside Germany, Ireland and Namibia. The Indian team will begin their campaign against Namibia on December 1, followed by matches against Germany on December 3 and Ireland on December 5.

The top teams from each pool will progress to the knockout stages, which will be played from December 7 to 13. The Indian team will continue to be led by Jyoti Singh as captain and Tushar Khandker as Chief Coach.

Despite participating in the FIH Women Junior World Cup since its inception in 1989, India has won only one bronze medal till date. India secured the bronze medal in the 2013 edition, held in Monchengladbach, Germany.

INDIAN JUNIOR WOMEN HOCKEY SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Nidhi, Engil Harsha Rani Minz. Defenders: Manisha, Lalthanlualangi, Sakshi Shukla, Puja Sahoo, Nandini. Mid-fielders: Sakshi Rana, Ishika, Sunelita Toppo, Jyoti Singh, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, Binima Dhan. Forwards: Sonam, Purnima Yadav, Kanika Siwach, Hina Bano, Sukhveer Kaur. Alternate Players: Priyanka Yadav, Parwati Topno. Chief Coach: Tushar Khandker.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Odisha players (L-R) Puja Sahoo, Sunelita Toppo and Engil Harsha Rani Minz express their happiness after being selected for the Women Junior Hockey World Cup 2025.