MARCH: Gemma defies the odds to get England call up for major tournament in Australia

By ADAM LAZZARI DESPITE suffering a year and a half plagued with injuries, a hockey player from March has been picked to represent England in her first major international tournament. Gemma Darrington, 22, returned to training just two and a half months

By ADAM LAZZARI

DESPITE suffering a year and a half plagued with injuries, a hockey player from March has been picked to represent England in her first major international tournament.

Gemma Darrington, 22, returned to training just two and a half months ago.

She has defied the odds to be selected for the Champions Trophy, in Sydney, Australia, which starts on July 11.

The tournament will feature the world's top six teams: England, Holland, Argentina, Australia, China and Germany.

Gemma, who has six England caps, flew out to Australia this week.

She said: "I've had a really tough time with injuries so I was really shocked when I received an e mail telling me I'd been picked."

The former March Town Hockey Club player now plays for Leicester.

She has played hockey since she was 11 and has represented England at under-16, under-18 and under-21 level.

She played in the Junior World Cup in 2005.

Gemma said: "This tournament will be a good warm up for the European Championships in Amsterdam in August, so I need to play well to make sure that I get picked.

"There is also the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games next year, so it's an exciting time for me.

"My main ambition is to compete in the Olympics, so I need to keep working hard to keep getting selected.