The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Sumrai Tete to lead India

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Saturday, Mar 04, 2006

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Sport - Hockey

Sumrai Tete to lead India

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Sumrai Tete has been handed an enviable task of leading Indian women's hockey team that will fly out to Melbourne on Saturday to defend its Commonwealth Games title.

"It was a real surprise for me to get a chance to lead India," said Tete soon after the announcement. "Helen (Mary) has done very well so far and it will be my responsibility to carry on with the good performance," said Tete. Helen Mary, the senior most member in the 16-player team, was widely expected to be named captain.

"I have a lot of responsibility going into the Commonwealth Games, specially since we are defending the title," she said.

"Australia is the first challenge and we would like to do our best in the opening match against the hosts," said Tete.

India is in Group A that also includes South Africa, Nigeria and Malaysia. Group B comprises, England, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada and Barbados.

Asked why Tete was preferred over more experienced Helen Mary, the Secretary of the Indian Women's Hockey Fedration (IWHF), Amrit Bose, said that the federation wanted to reward Tete for the consistent performance.

Forwards Jyoti Sunita Kullu and Surinder Kaur are also back after recovering from injuries. It remains to be seen how these strikers cope up with the rigours of big competition.

The groupings: Group A: Australia, India, South Africa, Nigeria and Malaysia. Group B: England, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada and Barbados.

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