BENGALURU
The Indian junior women’s hockey team flew out from Bengaluru, heading to the United Kingdom for a crucial development tour.
Running from July 5 to 14, the trip will see the young squad play seven highly competitive matches across Scotland and England. This international tour serves as vital preparation for major upcoming events, including the Junior Asia Cup.
Led by new chief coach Tim White, the fresh twenty-four-player squad features Captain Khaidem Shileima Chanu alongside talented goalkeepers Nidhi and Engil Harsha Rani Minz. The line-up includes a solid defensive unit, an energetic midfield, and a sharp forward line featuring promising players like Sukhveer Kaur and Shashi Khasa.
Coach White explained that this European tour is a massive milestone for the development of the junior squad. Since many of these young athletes have never played against foreign teams before, the matches will offer a great learning experience. The team has spent ten weeks practicing specific strategies, and White plans to use these games to test those new systems under real match pressure.
The exciting tour kicks off with two challenging matches against the Scotland Senior Women’s Team at the University of Edinburgh. After that, the Indian side will travel to the Lilleshall National Sports Centre. There, they will face tough junior teams from the United States, England, and Belgium. White expects a fierce challenge but believes the tour will successfully highlight the team’s strengths and areas for growth.