Indian Women's Hockey Team announced for Asian Champions Trophy, Savita Punia rested

The Indian women's hockey team has announced its squad for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT). The most significant change in the team is the decision to rest experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia, with 25-year-old Bansari Solanki being included in her place. Bansari Solanki was part of the team that won the Asia Cup last year. Bichu Devi Kharbam retains her position as the other goalkeeper in the squad.

According to a report by The Hindu, the tournament will be held from November 19 to November 28 at the newly constructed International Sports Complex, Nathu Barkheda, in Bhopal. India will enter the competition as the defending champions. This is India's first international tournament since winning a historic gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan last month. Mid-fielder Salima Tete will continue to lead the team.

Head coach Shoyred Marijne made several changes to the roles of some players during the team announcement. Coach Marijne stated, "This is the moment when I want to give other players the opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage. Some players will play in positions different from where they usually play, so I can see how they perform in a different role." He further added that they are excited to play in front of the home crowd and to end the year on a high note.

Under the role changes, Rutuja Daso Pisal, who played as a forward in the Asian Games, has been named in the midfield for the ACT. Similarly, mid-fielder Nikki Pradhan is now part of the defensive line-up, while Ishika Chaudhary has been moved from defence to midfield.

A total of six teams will participate in this tournament, including India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea. Like India, South Korea has also won the women's Asian Champions Trophy three times. Notably, host India won the ACT titles in 2016, 2023, and 2024.

The tournament will be played in a round-robin format, where each team will play the other five teams once. After the league stage, the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals. On the first day of the tournament, the top-ranked Asian team China will face Thailand, followed by a match between India and Malaysia after the opening ceremony.

According to the Indian team's schedule, matches will be played against South Korea on November 21, Thailand on November 22, China on November 24, and Japan on November 25. The semi-finals will be held on November 27 and the medal matches on November 28.

Speaking about the opportunity, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, "The Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026 is an important opportunity for our team to carry forward the momentum of the historic Asian Games victory. Playing in front of home supporters is a great inspiration and I am confident that the players will perform strongly and make the country proud." Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also wished the team success and stated that as defending champions, the team would be determined to maintain their winning streak.

The full squad includes Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharbam as goalkeepers. The defenders are Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu, Laltlanluanagi, and Pooja Sahu. The midfielders are Rutuja Daso Pisal, Sunlita Toppo, Salima Tete (Captain), Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljit Kaur, and Ishika. The forward line-up includes Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami, and Mumtaz Khan.