Ritu Rani-led Indian women’s team leave for Glasgow to take part in upcoming Commonwealth Games

The Ritu Rani-led 16-member Indian women’s hockey team departed for Glasgow today to take part in the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which gets underway from July 23 to August 3. Fullback Deepika is the vice-captain of the side.

The 13^th ranked Indians came off a strenuous preparatory camp at NSNIS Patiala. The competition in the Commonwealth Games will be of the highest order as three of the top-10 ranked teams are in the fray.

Indian eves are pitted in Pool A alongside 4^th ranked New Zealand, 22nd ranked Canada, 11^th ranked South Africa and 31^st ranked Trinidad and Tobago, while 2^nd ranked Australia, 6^th ranked England, hosts and 16th ranked Scotland, 21^st ranked Malaysia and 32^nd ranked Wales comprise Pool B.

Indian women will kickstart their campaign against Canada on July 24.

India’s best performance in the Commonwealth Games was a fourth-place finish in the 1998 edition in Kuala Lumpur. At the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India had to settle for the 5^th position. Australia won the crown beating New Zealand in the final. England had finished third, while South Africa finished fourth.

The writer can be contacted at: suhridbarua@gmail.com