India Name 20-Member Squad for Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

Hockey India has announced a 20-member Indian women’s squad for the Madhya Pradesh Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026, with Salima Tete continuing as captain. The six-team tournament is scheduled to take place in Bhopal from November 19 to 28.

India head into the competition after their historic gold-medal triumph at the Asian Games in Japan and will aim to defend the Asian Champions Trophy title. The hosts are three-time winners of the competition, having lifted the trophy in 2016, 2023 and 2024.

India’s squad for Bhopal 2026

Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam are the two goalkeeping options selected in the 20-member group. Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia has not been included in the squad announced for the tournament.

The defensive unit consists of Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu, Lalthantluangi and Pooja Sahoo. The selected group gives India six listed defenders as the team prepares for a round-robin competition against five other Asian sides.

In midfield, captain Salima Tete is joined by Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunelita Toppo, Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur and Ishika. Tete will lead the side as India seek to take their Asian Games momentum into another major regional event.

The forward line includes Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami and Mumtaz Khan. Hockey India’s selection features players across the goalkeeping, defence, midfield and forward positions for the Bhopal tournament.

The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy will be staged at the newly built International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. India will be one of six competing teams, alongside China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea.

Round-robin format sets route to semi-finals

All six teams will play one another once in the league phase. The top four sides at the end of the round-robin stage will progress to the semi-finals, making every league fixture significant in the push for a place in the knockout rounds.

For India, the tournament represents an opportunity to defend a title they won in 2024 while adding to a record that already includes championships in 2016 and 2023. The team will also be playing at home in Bhopal, where the event runs across 10 days from November 19 to 28.

With Tete retained as captain and a full 20-player squad now confirmed, India’s focus turns to the challenge of navigating the league phase against China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea before the semi-final places are decided.