India women’s tour of Argentina: Salima Tete pulls out with illness, Navneet Kaur to lead side
The Indian women’s hockey team departed from Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on Thursday evening for Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it will take on the host in a four-match series from April 13 to 17.
Notably, captain Salima Tete is unable to travel with the team due to illness, and in her absence, experienced forward Navneet Kaur will lead the side as stand-in captain for the tour.
The tour is set to play a crucial role in India’s preparations for a packed international calendar ahead, including the FIH Women’s World Cup and the Asian Games.
ALSO READ | India Women’s tour of Argentina 2026 — Full squad, schedule, venue, timings
The squad has been training in Bengaluru over the past few weeks. The team heads into the series with confidence following a commendable runner-up finish at the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 held in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Expressing her thoughts ahead of departure, stand-in captain Navneet said, “This series is a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against a quality side like Argentina. We have had a very productive training camp in Bengaluru, and the focus has been on improving our structure and decision-making in key moments. The team is feeling confident and excited to put our plans into action.”
Published on Apr 09, 2026