Rupinder Pal, Akashdeep back In Indian team for the 2018 Asian Games
To secure its place in the 2020 Olympic Games, Defending champions India has recalled drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and forward Akashdeep Singh in its 18-member squad that will participate in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta in August this year.
India had beaten Pakistan in the final in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, to earn a berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. In the ensuing Asian games, India will be led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was recently declared the Best Goalkeeper of the 37th and farewell edition of the Champions Trophy in Breda, the Netherlands. India returned home with its second consecutive Silver medal.
India's major challengers in Asian Games 2018 will include Pakistan, South Korea, Japan and Malaysia. The winners of Asian Games get direct entry to the Olympic Games.
Since India were without drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and forward Akashdeep Singh in the Champions Trophy, both have been included in the 18-member team named for the Asian Games.
Midfielder Chinglensana Singh Kangujam has been named as the Vice Captain for the tournament and he will be joined by the experienced Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh, Simranjeet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad in the midfield.
Experienced SV Sunil, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Dilpreet Singh have been named in the squad. The team's defence will be strengthened with the return of experienced dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh. The defence line will also see three other drag flickers Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas apart from the experienced Surender Kumar and Birendra Lakra.
Speaking about the team composition, Chief Coach Harendra Singh said, "We have a great mix of players who have shown their abilities in the recent tournaments. Though it is unfortunate we will be missing out on Ramandeep Singh's experience as he is ruled out of the Asian Games due to a recent knee surgery he underwent. But it is good to have Akashdeep Singh back in the mix. Both Rupinder and Akashdeep have remained in camp when the team was away in Breda and have had good match practice against Bangladesh over the past week and are raring to go."
The 18-members who returned from Breda, the Netherlands have joined the rest of the core group at ongoing National Camp in Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru, after a short five-day break. The next three weeks in camp will see a mix of players take on the Korean National Team in five practice matches and the New Zealand national team in three matches ahead of the all-important Asian Games. "While the practice matches against Korea will have a mix of players from the core group, the matches against New Zealand will be played by the 18 members who are selected for the Asian Games. I believe this will be good for the team in their preparation for the Asian Games where we will certainly go for the Gold to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," says Harendra Singh.
Goalkeepers:
PR Sreejesh (Captain),
Krishan B Pathak;
Defenders
Harmanpreet Singh,
Varun Kumar,
Birendra Lakra,
Surender Kumar,
Rupinder Pal Singh,
Amit Rohidas;
Midfielders:
Manpreet Singh,
Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (Vice-Captain),
Simranjeet Singh,
Sardar Singh,
Vivek Sagar Prasad;
Forwards:
S V Sunil,
Mandeep Singh,
Akashdeep Singh,
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay,
and Dilpreet Singh
