Hockey India has named the 20-member Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team for the FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025, set to take place in Santiago, Chile from 25 November to 13 December.
The squad featuring 18 core players and two alternates has been selected after months of intensive preparation and is expected to mount a strong challenge on the global stage. India has been drawn in Pool C, alongside Germany, Ireland, and Namibia. The team will begin its World Cup campaign on 1 December against Namibia, followed by a high-profile clash against Germany on 3 December, before rounding off the group stage against Ireland on 5 December. The top teams from each pool will move into the knockout rounds scheduled between 7 and 13 December.
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The side will once again be led by Jyoti Singh, who continues as Captain, bringing both experience and composure to the midfield. Tushar Khandker, the Chief Coach, will guide the team through the campaign, marking another major milestone in his tenure with India’s junior programme.
The goalkeeping unit features Nidhi and Engil Harsha Rani Minz, a pair that has grown steadily in confidence through recent exposure tours. The defensive core includes Manisha, Lalthanlualangi, Sakshi Shukla, Puja Sahoo, and Nandini, providing the team with a blend of physicality, structure, and ball-carrying ability. In the midfield, India will rely on the control and distribution of Sakshi Rana, Ishika, Sunelita Toppo, Captain Jyoti Singh, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, and Binima Dhan. This group forms the tactical backbone of the side, responsible for maintaining shape, transitioning quickly, and constructing attacking movements.
The forward line features an energetic and dynamic group of attackers Sonam, Purnima Yadav, Kanika Siwach, Hina Bano, and Sukhveer Kaur players known for their pace, pressing ability, and sharp finishing. Priyanka Yadav and Parwati Topno join the squad as alternate players for the tournament.
Coach Tushar Khandker: Discipline at the Core
Chief Coach Tushar Khandker expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness heading into the World Cup, highlighting the team’s discipline and steady improvement over recent months.
“I am very happy with the squad and the way they are playing at this moment,” he said. “My main principle is discipline in hockey, and I have kept that in focus while building this squad. We have gone through a rigorous training phase and have worked hard on our defensive structure and finishing inside the opponent’s scoring area. The girls have shown immense improvement and maturity.”
Reflecting on the final stages of preparation, Khandker added, “We are all ready and very excited to travel to Chile. The girls are fully motivated to perform their best at the World Cup.”
Full Indian Junior Women’s Squad for the 2025 World Cup
Goalkeepers
- Nidhi
- Engil Harsha Rani Minz
Defenders
- Manisha
- Lalthanlualangi
- Sakshi Shukla
- Puja Sahoo
- Nandini
Midfielders
- Sakshi Rana
- Ishika
- Sunelita Toppo
- Jyoti Singh (Captain)
- Khaidem Shileima Chanu
- Binima Dhan
Forwards
- Sonam
- Purnima Yadav
- Kanika Siwach
- Hina Bano
- Sukhveer Kaur
Alternate Players
- Priyanka Yadav
- Parwati Topno
With a determined leadership group, a balanced squad, and a strong preparatory phase behind them, the Indian Junior Women’s team enters the World Cup with optimism and the ambition to make a deep run in Santiago.
