Italy accepted the golden ticket to Berlin for the women’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship made possible in the wake of the Netherlands’ withdrawal before Christmas.
As such, they will play at this level for the first time since 2008, jumping straight up from Championship III after Ireland – the side above them in line – decided against taking the Dutch spot.
As such, it is a big but exciting challenge for the Italian side who are coached by former Czechia international Richard Kotrc.
At his disposal isMaryna Vynohradova who brings a glut of experience. Now 40, she played in the 2002 women’s outdoor World Cup in Perth and the indoor World Cup in 2007 with Ukraine. She also won the 2010 Euro indoors, scoring her side’s first two goals in the final against Spain.
The side also features Alessia Anania from 2023 Italian indoor champions HF Lorenzoni as well as Sara Puglisi who has Hoofdklasse experience with Oranje-Rood.
There is also a trio of players based in the Belgian leagues with Elettra Bormida and Ilaria Sarnari from White Star and Royal Léopold’s Teresa Dalla Vittoria.
Chiara di Bella (CUS Torino – pictured) captained the Under-21 side in the junior Euros last year in Lucerne. This event will be her senior debut as it will be for Puglisi, Bormida and Dalla Vittoria. The other eight all helped them achieve gold in Bratislava.
* 28 of the games will be streamed live from Berlin on www.eurohockeytv.org
** To find out more about the stats, fixtures and teams, click here: https://tms.fih.ch/competitions/1551
