Delhi SG Pipers announces Navneet Kaur as captain for Women's HIL

Delhi SG Pipers announced Olympian and India international Navneet Kaur as the captain of their women's team in the Hockey India League on Friday.

The four-team women's HIL will make its debut this season with other teams being Odisha Warriors, Rarh Bengal Tigers, and Soorma Hockey Club.

Along with Navneet, Delhi has named Belgian defender Emma Puvrez as the vice-captain.

Talking about Navneet's appointment, head coach Dave Smolenaars said, "She (Navneet) is a leading figure of the national team. I have already experienced in the last few months that she is very communicative. She is very easy with the players as well as the staff and she is a winner. She never allows herself to give 99 percent, it is always 100. Also, an important point to note is that to develop Indian hockey you need an Indian captain."

Navneet has been a key figure for the Indian team in the past five years and is part of the leadership group of the Indian team.

Talking about her appointment, assistant coach Tushar Khandekar said," Naveent is our key player. She has played across the world and is an Olympian. Her past few years have been amazing and that led us to make the captain."

Navneet will have her Indian teammates Sunelita Toppo, Mumtaz Khan, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, and Bichu Devi playing beside her in the Delhi SG Pipers.

"We are very excited for the first-ever Women's Hockey India League. It will be a great learning opportunity for all of us. I am very excited to meet the team and especially our foreign teammates," said Navneet on her appointment as the captain.

Delhi SG Pipers will start their women's HIL campaign against Odisha Warriors in the season opener on 12th of January 2025.