Salima Tete to captain India at Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026
Synopsis
Fresh off a historic Asian Games gold, India's women's hockey team heads into the Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal with Salima Tete as captain and without veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia — a deliberate squad rotation that signals coach Sjoerd Marijne is already thinking about the LA 2028 Olympic cycle while chasing a record fourth title on home turf.
Key Takeaways
Salima Tete will captain India at the Madhya Pradesh Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026 , running 19–28 November at Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal.
Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia has been left out; Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam will cover goal.
India are defending champions and three-time winners (2016, 2023, 2024); a fourth title would be a record.
The six-team field includes China , Japan , Malaysia , Thailand , and South Korea — the last of whom have also won the trophy three times.
India open against Malaysia on 19 November and face China on 24 November ; semi-finals and finals are on 27–28 November .
The squad was named days after India secured LA 2028 Olympics qualification via their Asian Games gold.
Midfielder Salima Tete will captain the Indian women's hockey team at the Madhya Pradesh Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026, Hockey India announced on Tuesday, 10 November. The tournament is scheduled from 19 to 28 November at the newly built International Sports Complex, Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal — marking India's first international outing since their historic gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan last month.
Savita Punia Absent, New Goalkeeping Pair Steps Up
Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, who captained India to Asian Games gold and made a crucial penalty-stroke save against China to secure direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics, has been left out of the squad. Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam will share goalkeeping responsibilities in her absence — a significant test for both players on the international stage.
The decision underscores Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne's approach of using the tournament as an opportunity to assess depth. '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,' Marijne said. 'We are excited to play in front of the home crowd and finish the year well.'
Defending Champions Eye Historic Hat-Trick
India enter the tournament as defending champions and three-time winners, having claimed the title in 2016, 2023, and 2024. A fourth title would make India the outright most successful nation in the competition's history, edging ahead of South Korea, who have also won the trophy three times. The hosts will carry the additional momentum of their Asian Games triumph into what is effectively a home final stretch of their 2026 calendar.
India's Match Schedule at a Glance
The six-team round-robin competition features India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea. India open their campaign against Malaysia on November 19, following the opening ceremony — in which Asia's top-ranked side China face Thailand in the tournament opener. The Indians subsequently face South Korea on November 21, Thailand on November 22, China on November 24, and Japan on November 25. The semi-finals are set for November 27, with medal matches on November 28.
Hockey India Leadership Backs the Team
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey described the tournament as 'an important opportunity for our team to carry forward the momentum of their historic Asian Games triumph,' adding that home support would be a key motivator. Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed the sentiment, noting the team's 'outstanding year' and expressing confidence that the squad would 'maintain its winning momentum' as defending champions.
The full squad: 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 (c), Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur, Ishika; Forwards — Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami, Mumtaz Khan.
With LA 2028 Olympic qualification already secured and a home crowd behind them, India will be expected to arrive at the knockout stage as strong contenders for a record fourth title.
Point of View
And it tells you Marijne is prioritising depth-mapping over trophy insurance. The move makes sense in an Olympic cycle context, but it also raises the stakes: a home-crowd defeat would be hard to explain away as 'rotation.' India's claim to being Asia's dominant women's hockey force is real, but the South Korea rivalry — equal at three titles each — means this hat-trick bid is anything but a formality.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will captain India at the Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026?
Midfielder Salima Tete will captain the Indian women's hockey team at the Madhya Pradesh Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026. The tournament runs from 19 to 28 November at the International Sports Complex, Nathu Barkheda, Bhopal.
Why is Savita Punia not in India's squad for the Asian Champions Trophy 2026?
Hockey India has not stated an injury or specific reason; the omission appears to be a deliberate rotation decision by Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne, who said he wants to give other players the chance to showcase their talent and test them in different roles. Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam will fill the goalkeeping berths in her absence.
How many times has India won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy?
India have won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy three times — in 2016, 2023, and 2024 — and enter the Bhopal 2026 edition as defending champions. A fourth title would make them the most successful nation in the tournament's history, ahead of South Korea, who have also won it three times.
What is India's match schedule at the Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026?
India open against Malaysia on 19 November, then face South Korea (21 Nov), Thailand (22 Nov), China (24 Nov), and Japan (25 Nov) in the round-robin stage. The semi-finals are on 27 November and the medal matches on 28 November.
Which teams are competing in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026?
Six teams are competing: India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea. All six play each other once in a round-robin league stage, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
