The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy is all set to begin tomorrow, 11th November 2024, and will run till 20th November. This is an important tournament for the Indian women’s hockey team, and the stakes are high for three key reasons. First, they are playing at home, in India. Second, they are the defending champions. And third, after missing out on a spot at the Paris Olympics, the team is eager to regain their pride and give the fans a reason to cheer with a Continental Trophy win. Salima Tete and the team, guided by new coach Harendra Singh, will look to move past their setbacks and focus on the 2028 LA Olympics.
This is the first time the tournament is being held in Bihar, and the new Rajgir Hockey Stadium will host all the matches in the eighth edition. It will be exciting to see how this new venue supports the sport and how the crowd reacts to the home team.
Added responsibility for Salima Tete
The young 22-year-old midfielder Salima Tete will take on added responsibility as the captain of the Indian team for this competition. The team’s first match is against Malaysia on 11th November, followed by a tough game against South Korea. It will be interesting to see how Salima plans her tactics against powerful teams like China and Korea.
Another player to watch out for is Udita Duhan, the most expensive player in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) auction. Udita, a solid defender, will be expected to make an impact on the field.
India Squad for Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024
- Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam
- Defenders: Udita, Jyoti, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Ishika Chaudhary
- Midfielders: Neha, Salima Tete (C), Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami
- Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Preeti Dubey, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung
Challenges from China and Korea
China, who won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, will be a strong contender. They are ranked No. 6 in the world, ahead of India, who are ranked 9th. South Korea, ranked 15th, are the most successful team in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, with three titles to their name. Japan, who are ranked 11th, are also two-time champions, just like India.
With tough competition ahead, the Indian team will need to be at their best to defend their title and take the home advantage to their benefit. The excitement is building, and all eyes will be on Rajgir as the action unfolds.
Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Schedule
Recently, the matches have been rescheduled to daytime slots due to a persistent insect problem at the venue. Originally set for the evening, the games will now begin in the afternoon to avoid the insects attracted to floodlights during night matches.
According to the revised schedule, the matches will start at 12:15 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:45 pm. The earlier timings of 3 pm, 5:15 pm, and 7:30 pm have been changed to ensure a safer environment for both players and fans.
| Date | Teams | Time |
|---|---|---|
| November 11, Monday | Japan vs South Korea | 12:15 |
| November 11, Monday | China vs Thailand | 14:30 |
| November 11, Monday | India vs Malaysia | 16:45 |
| November 12, Tuesday | Thailand vs Japan | 12:15 |
| November 12, Tuesday | China vs Malaysia | 14:30 |
| November 12, Tuesday | India vs South Korea | 16:45 |
| November 14, Thursday | South Korea vs Malaysia | 12:15 |
| November 14, Thursday | Japan vs China | 14:30 |
| November 14, Thursday | Thailand vs India | 16:45 |
| November 16, Saturday | Malaysia vs Japan | 12:15 |
| November 16, Saturday | South Korea vs Thailand | 14:30 |
| November 16, Saturday | India vs China | 16:45 |
| November 17, Sunday | Malaysia vs Thailand | 12:15 |
| November 17, Sunday | China vs South Korea | 14:30 |
| November 17, Sunday | Japan vs India | 16:45 |
| November 19, Tuesday | Fifth/sixth place classification match | 12:15 |
| November 19, Tuesday | Semi-final 1 | 14:30 |
| November 19, Tuesday | Semi-final 2 | 16:45 |
| November 20, Wednesday | Bronze medal match | 14:15 |
| November 20, Wednesday | Final | 16:45 |
