The Indian junior women’s hockey squad departed from Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, early on Wednesday, bound for the Four Nations Tournament in Rosario, Argentina.
This friendly competition forms a key part of the team’s preparations for the FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup scheduled for December.
Alongside India, the tournament features Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, with all teams competing for the top spot.
Taking place from 25 May to 2 June (IST), the tournament will, however, see India play two matches each against the other three teams.
The event aims to:
The Indian side will be captained by goalkeeper Nidhi under the guidance of coach Tushar Khandker. Forward Hina Bano will serve as vice-captain.
India’s campaign will, however, begin against Chile on 25 May, followed by a match against Uruguay on 26 May.
The first round of fixtures will conclude with a game against hosts Argentina on May 28.
Ahead of departure, Captain Nidhi, however, expressed enthusiasm about the tournament.
“The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team is excited about the upcoming Four Nations Tournament in Argentina. We have been working hard in training, and we hope our efforts reflect in the matches. Playing against stronger opponents will only help us improve. We are confident in our abilities and look forward to the upcoming games,” she stated.
Coach Khandker emphasised the importance of the squad selection and the tour’s role in preparing the team.
“We are looking to identify our best players from this squad, especially with the Junior World Cup just six months away. This tour will provide valuable international exposure and experience for the players. In the long term, we are also preparing them for a smooth transition to the senior team. That transition is only possible if they perform well in major tournaments like the World Cup, which makes this tour extremely important,” he noted.
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