Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026: India Squad and Schedule

India will begin their title defence at the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal without veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, who has been rested for the tournament. Head coach Sjoerd Marijne has included Bansari Solanki as her replacement and plans to use the competition to test different player combinations and positional changes ahead of future international assignments.

Hockey India announced an 18-member squad on Tuesday for the November 19-28 tournament, which will be held at the newly constructed International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal. India enter the competition as defending champions after winning the title in 2016, 2023 and 2024.

The tournament will also mark India’s return to international action following their gold medal-winning campaign at the Asian Games in Japan last month. Salima Tete will continue to lead the team as captain, with Marijne looking to assess the depth of his squad while competing for another continental title.

Savita Punia Rested, Bansari Solanki Gets the Opportunity

Savita Punia’s absence is one of the biggest talking points in India’s squad announcement. The experienced goalkeeper has been rested, giving Bansari Solanki an opportunity to feature in the tournament alongside Bichu Devi Kharibam.

Bansari, 25, is already familiar with the national setup. She was part of the Indian team that won the Asia Cup last year, making her inclusion a continuation of her involvement with the senior squad rather than an entirely new call-up.

Her selection provides India with another opportunity to assess their goalkeeping options in a competitive international environment. Bichu Devi will be the other goalkeeper available to Marijne during the tournament.

Savita’s absence does not necessarily indicate a change in India’s long-term goalkeeping plans. The decision has been described as a rest ahead of the competition, while the selection of two other goalkeepers gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate their readiness for international matches.

Sjoerd Marijne Plans Positional Experiments

Beyond the goalkeeping change, Marijne has made several interesting adjustments to the squad’s positional composition. The coach intends to assess how selected players perform in unfamiliar roles, potentially giving India more tactical flexibility.

Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, who played in the forward line during the Asian Games, has been listed among the midfielders. Nikki Pradhan, traditionally associated with midfield duties, has been moved into defence. Ishika Chaudhary, meanwhile, has been shifted in the opposite direction, moving from defence into midfield.

These changes suggest that the tournament will serve two purposes for India. The team will aim to defend its title, but the coaching staff will also use the matches to examine different combinations and identify players who can contribute in more than one position.

Such flexibility can be valuable in international hockey, where teams must adapt to different opponents, match situations and tactical demands. Players capable of performing multiple roles can give coaches additional options when making substitutions or adjusting formations.

Marijne explained that he wanted to provide more players with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities at the international level.

“This is the moment I want to give other players the chance to showcase their talent on the international stage. Some players will be playing in different positions than they normally do, so that I can see how they perform in a different role,” said chief coach Sjoerd Marijne.

He also expressed excitement about playing in front of Indian supporters and finishing the year with a strong performance.

Salima Tete to Lead India in Bhopal

Salima Tete will continue as India’s captain for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. Her leadership will be important as the team returns to international competition following its successful Asian Games campaign.

India will arrive in Bhopal with the expectation of competing for the title, but the squad changes indicate that Marijne is also looking beyond the immediate tournament. Giving players opportunities in different positions could help the coaching staff understand the team’s available options before more demanding international assignments.

The presence of established players such as Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Lalremsiami and Mumtaz Khan provides experience in the forward line. Meanwhile, the midfield and defensive groups include players who could be tested in different combinations during the league stage.

For Salima, the challenge will be to guide the team through a demanding schedule while ensuring that the positional experiments do not disrupt India’s overall performance.

Six Teams to Compete for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy

Six national teams will compete in the tournament: India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea. The competition brings together some of Asia’s leading women’s hockey teams, making the title defence a significant test for the hosts.

South Korea will be among the major contenders. The Koreans have won the tournament three times, matching India’s record of three titles. Their experience in the competition makes them an important opponent in the race for the trophy.

China will also arrive as a strong challenger. It is currently the highest-ranked team in Asia and will be looking to translate that standing into a successful campaign in Bhopal.

Japan adds another competitive challenge, while Malaysia and Thailand will look to make an impact against the more established teams.

With six sides competing, the round-robin format will give every team an opportunity to test itself against all the other participants before the knockout stage begins.

India’s Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 Schedule

The tournament will begin with a round-robin league in which all six teams will play five matches each. The four highest-placed teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals.

China will face Thailand in the opening match of the competition. India will begin its title defence later on the same day, taking on Malaysia after the opening ceremony.

The hosts will then face a demanding sequence of matches against South Korea, Thailand, China and Japan. These fixtures will test India’s ability to maintain consistency against teams with different playing styles.

The complete schedule for India’s league-stage matches is as follows:

• November 19: India vs Malaysia
• November 21: India vs South Korea
• November 22: India vs Thailand
• November 24: India vs China
• November 25: India vs Japan

The semi-finals will take place on November 27. The third-place playoff and the final are scheduled for November 28, when the tournament’s champion will be decided.

What India’s Title Defence Means for the Team

India’s campaign in Bhopal will be important for both immediate results and longer-term squad development. The team enters the tournament after winning gold at the Asian Games, giving the players an opportunity to build on that achievement in front of home supporters.

However, the absence of Savita and the positional changes indicate that Marijne is not approaching the competition solely as a title-defence exercise. He also wants to evaluate players who may be required in different roles during future international tournaments.

The decision to test Nikki Pradhan in defence, Ishika in midfield and Rutuja in the middle of the field could provide useful information about the team’s tactical depth. If the players adapt successfully, India may have more options when facing opponents with different strengths.

The goalkeeping combination of Bansari and Bichu Devi will also attract attention following Savita’s rest. Both will have an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to contribute at the international level.

India will nevertheless face strong competition. China and South Korea have established records in Asian women’s hockey, while Japan will provide another difficult test. The round-robin format means there will be limited room for mistakes before the semi-final positions are decided.

Full India Squad for Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026

Hockey India has named an 18-member squad for the tournament. Salima Tete will captain the side, while Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam will form the goalkeeping group.

Goalkeepers

• Bansari Solanki
• Bichu Devi Kharibam

Defenders

• Nikki Pradhan
• Jyoti
• Jyoti Singh
• Sushila Chanu
• Lalthantluangi
• Pooja Sahoo

Midfielders

• Rutuja Dadaso Pisal
• Sunelita Toppo
• Salima Tete (Captain)
• Neha
• Sakshi Rana
• Baljeet Kaur
• Ishika

Forwards

• Navneet Kaur
• Deepika
• Beauty Dungdung
• Lalremsiami
• Mumtaz Khan

Can India Defend the Title in Front of Home Supporters?

India will enter the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy with a strong opportunity to extend its record in the competition. Playing in Bhopal offers the team the advantage of home support, while the recent Asian Games gold medal provides an encouraging foundation for the campaign.

Marijne’s decision to rest Savita and experiment with player positions adds another dimension to the tournament. The coaching staff will be looking for competitive results while assessing how well the squad can adapt to different tactical demands.

China, South Korea and Japan are expected to provide significant challenges, and India’s opening match against Malaysia will be the first opportunity to establish momentum.

Ultimately, the tournament will test whether India can combine tactical experimentation with consistent performances. A successful title defence would strengthen the team’s position in Asian hockey, while the experience gained by players in unfamiliar roles could prove valuable for the future.