NEW DELHI, OCT 24 : Post bagging the gold medal at the 17th Asian Games, the Indian Men Hockey Squad gears up to play test series against Australia in preparation for the upcoming FIH Champions Trophy 2014, scheduled to take place in Bhubaneswar, India from December 6 to 16 Hockey India today announced a 21- member squad for the Australian tour.
The Indian squad will leave for the Australian Tour on October 29. The team will train and play the ‘four-match test series’ against Australia national team from October 30 to November 10 at the Perth Hockey Stadium, Australia including. India will also play one training game against Australia A on November 1.
The Indian team was selected by Hockey India selectors Mr. B P Govinda, Mr. Harbinder Singh and Mr. Arjun Halappa along with chief coach Terry Walsh, coach Jude Felix and physiotherapist Jince Thomas Mathew on the basis of their performance in the recently concluded 17th Asian Games 2014 in Incheon and selection trials conducted at at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on October 16.
Led by captain Sardar Singh (197 Caps) and P R Sreejesh (112 Caps) as the Vice Captain, the Indian squad is determined to outshine Australia in the test series as the players are seen practicing rigorously at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi from October 15 to improve their game play and outperform the World Champions Australia.
Hockey India President Narinder Batra said, “Playing against Australia will be an exciting clash and am sure both the teams will strive to put on their best efforts and will display an excellent show against each other. What will go in our benefit will be the performance that the team showcased both in the Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian Games and which will be a huge motivation for the boys when they face Australia. I am proud of the team’s recent achievements and wish them all the best hoping a yet another hard earned win in the upcoming Australian Tour.”
The team:
Goalkeepers: P R Sreejesh (112 Caps) Vice- Captain, 2- Harjot Singh (05 Caps).
Defenders: Gurbaj Singh (176 Caps), Rupinder Pal Singh (99 Caps), V R Raghunath (172 Caps), Briendra Lakra (83 Caps), Kothajit Singh Khadangbam (83 Caps), Gurjinder Singh (16 Caps), Harbir Singh Sandhu (30 Caps).
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh (109 Caps), S K Uthappa (54 Caps), Sardar Singh (197 Caps) Captain, Dharamvir Singh (87 Caps), Danish Mujtaba (123 Caps), Satbir Singh (12 Caps).
Forwards: Nikkin Thimmaiah(23 Caps), S V Sunil (149 Caps), Mandeep Singh (40 Caps), Akashdeep Singh (53 Caps), Ramandeep Singh (23 Caps), Lalit Upadhyay (06 Caps).