Sonika to lead India in five-nation hockey tourney

Promising midfielder Sonika is all set to lead a 20-member women's squad for the upcoming five-nation international junior hockey tournament, starting from October 24 in Valencia, Spain.

Rashmita Minz will be her deputy. Divya Thepe and Sonal Minj will be the custodians for the tournament, according to a Hockey India (HI) release.

The midfield will include the three Kaurs - Manpreet, Navneet and Navpreet apart from Karishma Yadav and Udita. Meanwhile, Alka Dungdung, Jyoti, Puja Yadav and Amrinder Kaur will form the forward line.

Commenting on the upcoming tour, junior hockey coach Baljeet Singh Saini said: "This tournament will be good exposure for the women's team as we play top European teams and for many this is their first international exposure."

"The athletes have been attending rigorous training camps at SAI in Bhopal and have also been closely watched by Indian women hockey team chief coach Neil Hawgood," he added.

Team:

Goalkeepers: Divya Thepe, Sonal Minj.

Defenders: Salima Tete, Asmita Barla, Rashmita Minz (Vice-Captain), Ritu, Mahima Choudhary, Gagandeep Kaur.

Midfielders: Udita, Manpreet Kaur, Karishma Yadav, Navpreet Kaur, Sonika (Captain), Navneet Kaur.

Forwards: Jyoti, Puja Yadav, Alka Dungdung, Sangita Kumari, Amrinder Kaur, Jyoti Gupta.

--IANS

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