Hockey India Announces Squad For Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026

Hockey India on Tuesday announced a 20-member Indian women’s hockey squad for the Madhya Pradesh Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026, scheduled to be held from November 19 to 28 at the newly built International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal.

Midfielder Salima Tete will continue to lead the Indian side as it prepares for its first international assignment following its historic gold medal triumph at the Asian Games in Japan last month.

India will enter the competition as the defending champions and three-time winners, having lifted the trophy in 2016, 2023 and 2024. The hosts will aim to secure a fourth title and complete a hat-trick of consecutive championships while carrying forward their winning momentum.

The six-team tournament will feature India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea. South Korea has also won the competition three times. The teams will compete in a round-robin format, facing each other once, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.

India will begin its campaign against Malaysia on November 19, following the opening ceremony. The team will subsequently face South Korea on November 21, Thailand on November 22, China on November 24 and Japan on November 25. The tournament opener will see Asia's top-ranked team China take on Thailand.

The semi-finals are scheduled for November 27, while the medal matches will take place on November 28.

Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said the tournament would provide opportunities for players to demonstrate their abilities on the international stage, including in positions different from their usual roles. He also expressed excitement about playing in front of the home crowd and finishing the year on a positive note.

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said the competition would be an important opportunity to build on the team's Asian Games success. He expressed confidence that the players would deliver a strong performance with the support of home supporters.

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh also wished the team success, describing the tournament as another opportunity for the defending champions to showcase their quality.

The 20-member squad:

Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu, Lalthantluangi, Pooja Sahoo, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (Captain), Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur, Ishika, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami and Mumtaz Khan.