The Indian women’s hockey team faced a setback in their pursuit of qualifying for Paris 2024, as star forward Vandana Katariya was ruled out of the squad for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi.
Initially designated as the vice-captain and anticipated to play a pivotal role in India’s bid for a third consecutive Olympic berth, Vandana suffered an injury during training, resulting in a fracture in her cheekbone. Chief coach Janneke Schopman expressed regret over Vandana’s absence and highlighted the unfortunate circumstances surrounding her injury. Baljeet Kaur, a promising young player, will step in for Vandana, and Nikki Pradhan, a seasoned local star, has been appointed as the Vice Captain in Vandana’s stead.
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team, led by experienced goalkeeper Savita, arrived in Ranchi for the qualifiers. The team is set to commence their campaign on January 13, 2024, against the United States, a team they previously faced in 2019 for a spot in the Tokyo Olympics. Captain Savita expressed excitement about returning to Ranchi, recalling the support from the home crowd during the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.
Notably, Nikki Pradhan, the Vice Captain, was the first women’s hockey player from Jharkhand to represent India at the Olympic Games in 2016. The team’s schedule in Pool B includes matches against New Zealand on January 14 and Italy on January 16. The knockout rounds are scheduled for January 18 and 19. The tournament also features Olympic Silver medalists Germany, former Asian Games Champions Japan, Chile, and the Czech Republic in Pool A. The top three teams from the qualifiers will secure a berth in the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
