The Indian women’s hockey team will begin their Tokyo 2020 Olympics campaign against the Netherlands on Saturday, June 24.
Rani Rampal, the youngest ever debutant for the national team, will lead the side at Tokyo 2020. The 26-year-old forward, known for her distribution and attacking skills, will anchor a solid forward line that includes Lalremsiami and 19-year-old starlet Sharmila Devi.
Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur is another player to watch out for in the Indian women’s hockey team. A penalty corner specialist, Gurjit’s attacking prowess will be vital in lightening the burden on skipper Rani in tough fixtures against the Netherlands and Germany in Pool A.
Just as in the men’s event, the women’s hockey event at Tokyo Olympics will feature 12 nations who have been divided into two groups of six teams each.
India are placed in Pool A alongside World No.1 Netherlands, Germany, defending champions Great Britain, Ireland, and South Africa.
On the other hand, Pool B comprises Argentina, Australia, China, hosts Japan, New Zealand and Spain.
Each team will play five matches in the group stage with the top four teams qualifying for the knockout stage. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held on August 2 and 4, respectively.
The bronze medal and the gold medal matches will take place on August 6.
All matches will be played at the Oi Hockey Stadium's North and South pitch.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be the Indian women’s team’s third appearance at the Summer Games, having featured previously in 1980 and 2016. The current side will want to break their Olympic hoodoo, having finished fourth and 12th previously.
Defending champions Great Britain play their opening game on Sunday, July 25, against Germany, who won the Bronze medal at Rio 2016.
The India women’s hockey team has a nice blend of experience and youthful talents, with eight debutants joining the likes of Rani Rampal amongst the nine campaigners from Rio 2016.
India women's hockey Tokyo Olympics Squad
Goalkeeper: Savita Punia
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Nikki Pradhan, Gurjit Kaur, Udita, Reena Khokhar
Midfielders: Nisha Warsi, Neha Goyal, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Monika Malik, Navjot Kaur, Salima Tete, Namita Toppo
Forwards: Rani Rampal, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Vandana Katariya, Sharmila Devi
Women’s hockey at Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Schedule, fixtures and live India match times
All match times are in Indian Standard Time
| Date and Day | Match | Time | Venue |
| Saturday, July 24 | Netherlands vs India (Pool A) | 5:15 PM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| Ireland vs South Africa (Pool A) | 5:45 PM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – South Pitch | |
| Sunday, July 25 | Great Britain vs Germany (Pool A) | 6:00 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| Japan vs China (Pool B) | 8:15 AM IST | ||
| Australia vs Spain (Pool B) | 6:30 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – South Pitch | |
| New Zealand vs Argentina (Pool B) | 8:45 AM IST | ||
| Monday, July 26 | Netherlands vs Ireland (Pool A) | 6:30 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – South Pitch |
| Australia vs China (Pool B) | 8:45 AM IST | ||
| Argentina vs Spain (Pool B) | 3:30 PM IST | ||
| Germany vs India (Pool A) | 5:45 Pm IST | ||
| South Africa vs Great Britain (Pool A) | 3 PM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch | |
| Japan vs New Zealand (Pool B) | 5:15 PM IST | ||
| Wednesday, July 28 | Netherlands vs South Africa (Pool A) | 6 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| New Zealand vs Spain (Pool B) | 8:15 AM IST | ||
| Japan vs Australia (Pool B) | 3 PM IST | ||
| Great Britain vs India (Pool A) | 6:30 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – South Pitch | |
| Germany vs Ireland (Pool A) | 8:45 AM IST | ||
| Argentina vs China (Pool B) | 3:30 PM IST | ||
| Thursday, July 29 | Spain vs China (Pool B) | 3 PM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| Japan vs Argentina (Pool B) | 5:15 PM IST | ||
| Great Britain vs Netherlands (Pool A) | 3:30 PM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – South Pitch | |
| New Zealand vs Australia (Pool B) | 5:45 PM IST | ||
| Friday, July 30 | South Africa vs Germany (Pool A) | 6 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| Ireland vs India (Pool A) | 8:15 AM IST | ||
| Saturday, July 31 | China vs New Zealand (Pool B) | 6 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| Argentina vs Australia (Pool B) | 8:15 AM IST | ||
| Germany vs Netherlands (Pool A) | 3 PM IST | ||
| Ireland vs Great Britain (Pool A) | 5:15 PM IST | ||
| Japan vs Spain (Pool B) | 6:30 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – South Pitch | |
| India vs South Africa (Pool A) | 8:45 AM IST | ||
| Monday, August 2 | Quarter-final 1 | 6 AM IST | Oi Hockey Stadium – North Pitch |
| Quarter-final 2 | 8:30 AM IST | ||
| Quarter-final 3 | 3 PM IST | ||
| Quarter-final 4 | 5:30 PM IST | ||
| Wednesday, August 4 | Semi-final 1 | 7 AM IST | |
| Semi-final 2 | 3:30 PM IST | ||
| Friday, August 6 | Bronze medal | 7 AM IST | |
| Gold medal | 3:30 PM IST |
Where to watch women’s hockey at Tokyo 2020 Olympics live in India?
Women’s hockey at Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be telecast on the Sony Pictures Network India. Coverage will begin live at 5.15 PM IST on Sony’s TV channels in India.
Live streaming of the Women's hockey matches at Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.
Featured photo: Twitter / Kiren Rijiju
