Experienced Sardar Singh, who led an experimental squad to last edition of Azlan Shah Hockey, early this year has staged a come back to the national team that will play in the last or farewell edition of the prestigious Champions Trophy at Breda in the Netherlands. The 18-member Indian team announced by Hockey India on Thursday will be led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
A blend of experience and youth, the Champions Trophy team shows a couple of significant changes that finished fourth in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia in April.
Punjab's Jarmanjeet Singh will make debut for India.
Interestingly, it was PR Sreejesh under whose Captaincy the Indian team created history in the previous edition by clinching the Silver medal after a tense final encounter with World No.1 Australia. It was India’s first podium finish at the Champions Trophy in 34 years. “I think that was the closest we came to winning the Gold and most importantly beating Australia. Though we had to settle for a second place, it was a memorable tournament. This time too, we want to make it a memorable one as it’s the last edition of the prestigious event,” says PR Sreejesh.
Before the 2016 Champions Trophy, India had only as bronze in the 1982 edition of the elite tournament that after Breda is being discontinued.
Sreejesh will be joined by youngster Krishan Pathak as goalkeeper while India’s defence will see the experienced Birendra Lakra make a comeback into the squad. He will be joined by drag-flickers Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas along with Surender Kumar and debutant Jarmanpreet Singh who earned a place in the Core Group after a stupendous domestic season.
India’s midfield will be formed by stalwart Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and the talented Vivek Sagar Prasad. The forward line will feature SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Sumit Kumar (Jr).
“The team is a good mix of youth and experienced players. Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 is an extremely important tournament for the players to showcase their firepower as the team for the forthcoming Asian Games in Jakarta will be picked basis performance at the XXI Commonwealth Games and the Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018,” stated Chief Coach Harendra Singh.
The Champions rophy will be one of the major tests for Indian team under new coach before the Odisha World Cup in Bhubaneswar in November-December this year. Immediately after Champions Trophy, India will participate in the Asian Games in Jakarta.
India’s aim will be to finish on the podium to set the momentum right ahead of major International events such as the Asian Games in August and the much-awaited Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 starting in November. “While this team will be put to test against another Asian powerhouse Pakistan in the Asian Games, Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 will provide the ideal platform to see where we stand against higher ranked teams like Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Argentina in the run up to the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018,” Singh added.
India will begin their campaign at the Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 against rivals Pakistan on 23 June 2018.
Indian Team
Goalkeepers
Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran (C)
Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders
Harmanpreet Singh
Varun Kumar
Surender Kumar
Jarmanpreet Singh
Birendra Lakra
Amit Rohidas
Midfielders
Manpreet Singh
Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (VC)
Sardar Singh
Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards
Sunil Sowmarpet Vitalacharya
Ramandeep Singh
Mandeep Singh
Sumit Kumar (Jr.)
Akashdeep Singh
Dilpreet Singh
