KUALA LUMPUR – Negeri Sembilan are making a bold statement ahead of the 2026 Malaysia Women’s Hockey League, securing two high-profile Indian imports as they gear up for the season opener on April 21.
The state outfit have strengthened their squad with the signing of former India international Vandana Katariya, a World Cup campaigner alongside promising young talent Jyoti Chhatri, who has already featured in major Asian and Commonwealth-level competitions.
Speaking to Scoop, Negeri Sembilan hockey honorary secretary Tamil Selvan said Vandana brings a wealth of experience to the side, having earned 320 international caps and scored 158 goals for India.
Her most recent appearance for the national team came in February 2025 during the FIH Pro League.
“Vandana’s experience at the highest level will be invaluable to the team. We are talking about a player who has consistently performed against the world’s best and delivered in major tournaments.
“Her presence alone will raise the standard within the squad, not just in matches but also in training, where younger players can learn from her professionalism, movement, and finishing ability,” he said.
He added that Jyoti, 23, is regarded as one of India’s rising prospects, having played a key role in the country’s junior setup and competed in tournaments such as the 2023 Junior Asia Cup and the Five Nations Championship.
“Jyoti may be younger, but she brings a different kind of energy and hunger. She has already been exposed to high-level competitions at the junior and emerging senior stages, and we believe she has the potential to make an immediate impact.
“Players like her are important because they add intensity and competition within the squad, which is exactly what we want this season,” he said.
Both players are expected to arrive in Seremban on April 13 and will immediately link up with the Negeri Sembilan women’s squad under head coach Shaiful Azli Abd Rahman.
Tamil expressed confidence that the duo will quickly gel with the team, which also features several Malaysian national players, including Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli and Siti Nur Atika Shaikh Maznan.
“We have also brought in several national players, so the idea is to build a balanced squad with a strong local core complemented by quality foreign imports.
“With Vandana’s experience and Jyoti’s dynamism, we are optimistic they will form a solid understanding with the rest of the team in a short period of time,” he said.
Negeri Sembilan will open their campaign in the Charity Shield clash against Malaysian University (MU) at the Seremban 2 Hockey Stadium on April 21.
Vandana is widely regarded as one of India’s most accomplished forwards, having played a pivotal role in the team’s historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — the country’s best-ever result in women’s hockey.
She also etched her name in the record books by becoming the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, achieving the feat against South Africa in Tokyo.
Over the years, she has featured in multiple FIH Hockey World Cups, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, and was part of the Indian squad that secured bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Her consistent goal-scoring record and big-match experience have made her a cornerstone of India’s attacking line.
Jyoti, meanwhile, has built an impressive résumé at the developmental and emerging levels, playing an integral role in India’s junior teams in continental competitions.
She was part of squads that competed in the Junior Asia Cup and other international invitational tournaments, gaining valuable exposure against top Asian sides. - April 1, 2026
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