Team named for women's
World Cup hockey qualifier

The Indian Women's Hockey Federation on Saturday named a 19-member team for the women's hockey World Cup play-off match against the United States next month.

India take on the US in a three-match series on June 3, 4 and 6 at the Dhyan Chand stadium in Delhi. The winner will qualify for the 10th women's World Cup, to be held in Perth from November 25 to December 8, this year.

The team will also take part in a four-nation tournament in Manchester, from June 14 to 16.

The federation named Adline Kerketta as the 19th player, as forward Surinder Kaur, who is nursing a foot injury, is a doubtful starter.

The captain will be named later.

The play-off was scheduled after the US failed to make it to France for the World Cup qualifiers in September following the terrorist attacks in their country.

The FIH decided to give the United States a chance and thereby India, by virtue of finishing seventh in the qualifiers, were asked to play the U.S.

The team: Goalkeepers: Tingongleima Chanu, Helen Mary
Full-backs: Amandeep Kaur, Suman Bala, Pushpa Pradhan
Half-backs: Sita Gussain, Sumrai Tete, Suraj Lata Devi, Gurpreet Kaur, Masira Surin.
Forwards: Pritam Siwach, Manjinder Kaur, Sanggai Ibemhal Chanu, Mamta Kharb, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Nidhi Nandanoori, Papki Devi, Surinder Kaur, Adline Kerketta.
Stand-byes: Deepika Murthy, Kanti Baa, Manju, Saba Anjum.