Rani Rampal Misses Out As India Name FIH Women's Hockey World Cup Squad

Rani Rampal, the former skipper of India Women's Hockey team, will not be the part of the Indian squad for the FIH World Cup. The tournament will start from July 1 to 17, co-hosted by Netherlands and Spain. On Tuesday, Hockey India announced 18-member squad for the FIH World Cup but Rani was not in the list.

Rampal was suffering from a hamstring injury. After recovering, she played for the recent FIH Pro League matches in Belgium and Netherlands. Though she did not appear in the first four games of the side's European leg of Pro League. There was doubt about her full fitness. So, it cost her a place in the Indian squad for the Women's Hockey World Cup.

Also read : Most goals by teams in FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup 2022

The Indian women's team finished at fourth position under Rani's leadership in the Tokyo Olympics. She has 250 caps for India and has scored 117 goals. Rani was the face of the Indian Women's Hockey team. If she was in the team, Indian were in with a shout, always. Besides, she was the constant hockey player who was simply an "one-man-army" for the Indian women's team.

Also read :FIH Hockey Junior Women's World Cup 2022: India's schedule and fixture

Sadly, she does not seem fit properly since injury. After the Olympics, she only played one game. That's why, chief coach Janneke Schopman decided to go-on without Rani for the Women's Hockey World Cup. He said in a statement, "Except Rani, who is still not fully recovered from injury rehabilitation,the team has all the players who were part of the Olympic campaign with inclusions like Jyoti and Sonika who have done well in their roles when given a chance."

Except Rani, there will be no changes in the Indian squad. India will be in Pool B along with England, New Zealand and China. They will start their journey on July 3 against England.

List of the 18-member squad :

Goalkeepers :

• Savita (C)

• Bichu Devi Kharibam Kharibam

Defenders :

• Deep Grace Ekka (VC)
• Gurjit Kaur
• Nikki Pradhan
• Udita

Midfielders :

• Nisha
• Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam
• Monika
• Neha
• Jyoti
• Navjot Kaur
• Sonika
• Salima Tete

Forwards :

• Vandana katariya
• Lalremsiami
• Navneet Kaur
• Sharmila Devi

Replacement Players :

• Akshata Abaso Dhekale
• Sangita Kumari