England women are set for a baptism of fire when they kick start their Women’s FIH Pro League campaign against Olympic silver medallists China this weekend.
Coach David Ralph has picked a wealth of new faces from the autumn triallists, including teenagers Sofia Martin and Lottie Bingham, for their trip to China where they face the hosts and Belgium.
Ralph retains only two Paris Olympic Team GB squad members, goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard and Sophie Hamilton, while Paris reserve Lily Walker also travels.
The squad features a number of EDP players who make the step up, with several senior players currently abroad or taking time out from the programme after the Paris cycle.
China will open this year’s FIH Pro League on Saturday against Belgium, who finished fourth in Paris.
England play China on Sunday (11.30am UK) and Belgium the following day in their opening two matches.
“They’re a really good team, obviously incredibly well-coached, performed incredibly well in the summer and it will be a tough challenge,” said Ralph on China.
“As will Belgium, who were probably slightly disappointed in the end in the summer. But if you look at how they have performed over the last few years, are up there in the top four teams in the world.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s a big challenge, but it’s also a really good opportunity for people, for players to understand what the very, very top of the game looks like and feels like.
“If we’ve got aspirations to challenge those teams, I think showing them that as quick as possible and letting them see it and feel it and hopefully be inspired by it is part of the opportunity we have.”
Meanwhile, Olympic men’s champions the Netherlands play runners-up Germany in the opening men’s Pro League on Sunday.
It will be a grudge rematch of the Paris final, although Dutch star Duco Telgenkamp is currently injured.
Belgium will also play in the three-way mini tournament in Amsterdam in what is set to be an electric start to the global league.
England Pro League squad:
Beth Alexander, Alice Atkinson, Lottie Bingham, Hannah Boss, Darcy Bourne, Meg Crowson, Abbie Dixon, Millie Giglio, Paige Gillott, Olivia Hamilton, Sophie Hamilton, Rosie Hope, Becky Manton, Sofia Martin, Lizzie Neal, Miriam Pritchard (GK), Martha Taylor, Lily Walker, Mila Welch (GK)
