I am really happy but a little tense as well: Sushila Chanu

Sushila Chanu, who replaces axed veteran Ritu Rani as skipper, says it's a huge responsibility to lead a women's hockey team at the Olympics after 36-year gap

New Delhi: Defender Sushila Chanu will lead the 16-member Indian women's hockey team at the forthcoming Olympic Games to be held at Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to 21.

India's women's hockey skipper Sushila Chanu is presented the team jersey by BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi yesterday. Pic/PTI

Hockey India yesterday named Sushila as the skipper in place of Ritu Rani who was dropped from the squad due to poor form and attitude problems.

Sushila's colleague in the backline, Deepika will assist her as the vice-captain during the Games.

Sushila said it is a huge responsibility given to her and she vowed to fullfil it to the best of her potential. "I am really happy but I am little tense as well because it is a big responsibility to lead the side in the Olympics after 36 years," Sushila said.

"But I have been a captain at the junior level and have got a lot of support. I am getting a lot of support here as well. So I think I won't have any problems."

Indian women's hockey team's chief coach Neil Hawgood said they have handpicked the best-available team on the basis of merit. "We have picked the best physically and mentally prepared team," Hawgood said during a gliterring team announcement function here yesterday.

"It is a historic moment for the girls no matter whom we pick because they never played in the Olympics. The men's team have tasted the Olympics with seven players of the selected squad featuring at London. So we really don't know what's going to come over."

Asked about the experienced Ritu Rani's omission from the squad, Hawgood said: "We picked up a committed 16-member squad from the trials. We have selected the best 16."

Squad: Sushila Chanu (captain), Navjot Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Monika, Nikki Pradhan, Anuradha Devi Thokchom, Savita, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Deepika (vice-captain), Namita Toppo, Renuka Yadav, Sunita Lakra, Rani, Preeti Dubey, Lilima Minz. Standbyes: Hnialum Lal Ruat Feli, Rajani Etimmarpu (Reserve Goalkeeper).

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