Odisha found just one berth in the 20-member Indian team, which was announced today by Hockey India for the Womens Asia Cup Hockey Championship, scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from 5 to 14 September 2025. The lone Odisha player is Sunelita Toppo, who retained her place in the team.

The inclusion of only one Odisha player in the Indian team raised eyebrows as Odisha is touted as the hockey capital of India with the Odisha Government funding National hockey teams as their main sponsor and hosting major international tournaments for nearly a decade.

Six players from Odisha were in the list of 40 core probables for the Senior Women National Coaching Camp, which was held at SAI Centre, Bengaluru from 21 July to 29 August 2025. Among them only Sunelita was selected in the final squad. Other five players in the National camp were: Madhuri Kindo, Sujata Kujur, Jyoti Chhatri, Ajmina Kujur and Dipi Monika Toppo.

A total of eight teams will compete in the Asia Cup, which holds added significance as the winner will earn a direct qualification for the FIH Womens Hockey World Cup 2026. India has been drawn in Pool B, where they will face Japan, Thailand and Singapore. The four teams placed in Pool A are: China, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Korea.

Indian women will open their campaign against Thailand on September 5, followed by a clash with Japan on September 6. India will play their final pool-stage match against Singapore on September 8. The squad will be led by Salima Tete.

South Korea has been the most successful team in the Womens Asia Cup, winning three gold, three silver and three bronze medals so far. India has bagged two gold (2004, 2017), two silver (1999, 2009) and three bronze (1993, 2013, 2022) in this continental tournament till date.

INDIA WOMEN HOCKEY TEAM FOR ASIA CUP: Goalkeepers: Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi Kharibam. Defenders: Manisha Chauhan, Udita Duhan, Jyoti Rumavat, Suman Devi Thoudam, Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary. Mid-fielders: Neha Goyal, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami, Sunelita Toppo. Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, Beauty Dungdung, Mumtaz Khan, Deepika Sehrawat, Sangita Kumari.
Coaches & Support Staff: Harendra Singh (Chief Coach), Dav Smolenaars (Analytical Coach), Edison Elias (Scientific Advisor), Pratyakshi Munshi (Head Physiotherapist), Priya Sirohi (Assistant Physiotherapist), Artur Lucas (Chief Video Analyst), Amuthaprakash Perumal (Video Analyst), Radhika Bhikan Chaudhari (Masseuse), Pushpavathi F (Masseuse).
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PHOTO: File picture of Odisha woman hockey player Sunelita Toppo. (Photo credit: Hockey India).