Defender Harmanpreet Singh was once on Friday named the captain of the 18-member Indian squad which can compete on the FIH males’s Hockey World Cup, starting off on January 13 in Odisha.
Defender Amit Rohidas will function Harmanpreet’s deputy.
Harmanpreet had additionally captained the facet within the fresh collection towards Australia, the place the facet fought arduous ahead of shedding the five-match rubber 1-4.
Mid-fielder Manpreet Singh had led the workforce on the Tokyo Olympics the place India gained a ancient bronze medal however he’s going to function within the workforce as a participant this time as trainer Graham Reid has passed the captain’s band to other avid gamers over a time frame. Reid’s enterprise has been to create leaders from the senior team.
In the previous Amit Rohidas has additionally led India.
The World Cup squad was once decided on after two-day trials at SAI Center in Bengaluru the place 33 avid gamers have been put to check. It includes a just right mixture of skilled and younger avid gamers who will attempt to finish India’s look ahead to a podium end on the prestigious match.
Gurjant Singh and Dilpreet Singh, who have been a part of the Tokyo Olympic squad, aren’t a part of the principle workforce however will probably be there with the World Cup workforce as standbys.
“The team is purely picked on the basis of current form and performance of players. There was no other criteria,” a Hockey India selector instructed PTI.
Krishan B Pathak and PR Sreejesh, who will probably be enjoying his fourth World Cup – his 3rd on house soil, had been selected as goalkeepers.
Captain Harmapreet will spearhead the workforce’s protection at the side of vice-captain Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess.
The midfield will see the go back of younger prodigy Vivek Sagar Prasad, who ignored the new excursion of Australia in addition to the FIH Hockey Pro League because of an ankle damage.
He will probably be joined by way of Manpreet, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh and the skilled Akashdeep Singh.
The ahead line will function Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and kids Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh who’ve been spectacular since making their debuts previous this yr.
The two exchange avid gamers selected are Rajkumar Pal and Jugraj Singh.
Talking in regards to the workforce variety, Reid stated, “A home World Cup puts extra importance and extra pressure on this event like no other. Every country chooses the best team they believe is available to them at the time and tries to provide their team with the the best preparation they can.”
“We have also tried to do both with the selection of our Indian World Cup team, choosing a mixture of experienced and exciting young players who can provide something special.”
India will start their World Cup marketing campaign towards Spain on January 13 on the newly-built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela adopted by way of their 2d pool D tournament towards England.
They will transfer to Bhubaneswar to play their 3rd pool tournament towards Wales.
The knockout level will start with crossover fits on January 22 and 23. The quarterfinals will happen on January 25 and the semifinals on January 27.
The bronze medal tournament and the general will probably be hung on January 29.
“We have also had a great preparation over the last two months including a home Pro League series and a very tough tour to Australia against the World No.1.
“We are taking a look ahead to attending to Odisha and striking the completing touches to our arrangements for what’s going to be a thrilling and difficult event forward,” Reid stated.
squad
,
Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran.
Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (Captain), Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas (Vice-captain), Nilam Sanjeep Xess
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Akashdeep Singh.
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh.
Alternate Players: Rajkumar Pal and Jugraj Singh.