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Tingonleima Chanu to lead women's hockey team

Ace forward Pritam Rani Thakran and centre half Sita Gussain do not figure in the 16-member Indian women's hockey for the Olympic qualifying tournament to be held at Milton Keynes, England, from March 24 to April 2.

The team, which will be led by Tingonleima Chanu, has three new faces in Mamta Kharab, Kanti Baa and Manorama Goswami, all members of the junior squad.

Pritam Rani had led India to the second place in the Asia Cup last December.

In the ten-nation tournament, India is placed in Pool A and will open its campaign with a match against Spain.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Tingonleima Channu (captain), Helen Mary.

Full backs: Amandeep Kaur, Marystella Tirkey, Kanti Baa.

Halves: Sunita Dalal, Suraj Lata, Sumrai Tete, Neha Singh, Kamla Dalal, Jyoti Kullu, Ferdina Ekka.

Forwards: Mamta Kharab, Surinder Kaur, Papki Devi, Manorama Goswami.

Chief coach: G.S. Bhangu; Astt.coach: Jaswinder Singh

Manager: Rupa Saini; Judge: Amrit Bose; Doctor: Ashok Ahuja.

Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) secretary Amrit Bose said that Pritam Rani and Sita Gussain did not attend the coach camp citing domestic reasons and hence were not considered for selection.

She did not agree with the view that absence of these two star players will have any adverse effect on the team's performance.

"We have picked up best possible team and I am sure that team will perform well," she said.

The first five teams qualify for the Sydney Olympics.

The Groups:

Pool 'A': India, Spain, Germany, USA, Ireland.

Pool 'B': China, Britain, Japan, Russia, New Zealand.

The fixtures:

March 24: India vs Spain; Germany vs USA; Russia vs China; New Zealand vs Japan

March 25: India vs Ireland; Spain vs Germany; Britain vs Russia; China vs New Zealand

March 26: USA vs Ireland; Japan vs Britain

March 27: India vs Germany; Russia vs New Zealand

March 28: Spain vs USA; Germany vs Ireland; China vs Japan; New Zealand vs Britain.

March 29: India vs USA; Ireland vs Spain; Japan vs Russia; Britain vs China

March 30: Rest day

March 31: Classification matches: 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B; 4th Pool A vs 3rd Pool B; 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B; 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B

April 1: 9th/10th place play off; 7th/8th place play off; 5th/6th place play-off.

April 2: 3rd/4th place play-off; final.