Veteran drag-flicker Rupinderpal Singh will lead a 20-member Indian males’s hockey workforce for the upcoming Asia Cup to be held from May 23 to June 1 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Defender Birendra Lakra is appointed because the vice-captain. Interestingly, each Rupinder Pal and Birendra had introduced their retirement quickly after the Tokyo Olympic Olympics however earlier this yr, they made themselves out there for choice once more for the nationwide workforce. Veteran ahead SV Sunil can also be among the many 20 gamers Hockey India picked for the event.
India are in pool A together with Japan, Pakistan and hosts Indonesia, whereas Malaysia, Korea, Oman and Bangladesh are grouped in pool B. India will begin their Asia Cup Men’s Hockey title protection with a blockbuster conflict towards arch-rivals Pakistan on the opening day of the competitors.
Yashdeep Siwach, Abhisek Lakra, Manjeet, Vishnukant Singh and Uttam Singh. Also new within the workforce can be Mareeswaren Sakthivel, Sheshe Gowda BM, Pawan Rajbhar, Abharan Sudev and S Karthi can be making their senior India debut.
Junior World Cup gamers Maninder Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess have been named as alternative gamers whereas Pawan, Pardeep Singh, Ankit Pal and Angad Bir Singh have been named as standbys.
“The team is a good mix of experienced senior players and newcomers, many of whom have played at the international level in different age-group matches but have not made their Senior India debut. Since India has already qualified for the World Cup by virtue of being the hosts, it will be a good platform for us to try out this new set of players,” says coach BJ Kariappa.
Former India Captain Sardar Singh may even accompany the workforce. He stated: “This is a very talented group of players and I have seen them work really hard over the past few weeks to earn a place in the team. On a personal front, this will be my first tournament as India Coach and I am looking forward to this new experience.”
Squad
Goalkeepers: Pankaj Kumar Rajak, Suraj Karkera
Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh (Captain), Yashdeep Siwach, Abhisek Lakra, Birendra Lakra (vice-captain), Manjeet, Dipsan Tirkey
Midfielders: Vishnukant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Mareeswaren Sakthivel, Sheshe Gowda BM, Simranjeet Singh
Forwards: Pawan Rajbhar, Abharan Sudev, SV Sunil, Uttam Singh, S.Karthi
Replacement Players: Maninder Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess
Standbys: Pawan, Pardeep Singh, Ankit Pal, Angad Bir Singh
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
