New Delhi: Hockey India has named three Odia players — Birendra Lakra, Amit Rohidas and Shilanand Lakra in the 18-member squad for the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup which is set to begin in Malaysia, March 23.
Injuries to key players have forced India to field a relatively young squad which will be led by midfielder Manpreet Singh.
Apart from India and hosts Malaysia, the other participating nations are Canada, Korea, South Africa and Asian Games gold medallist Japan.
India will miss the services of experienced forwards SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, besides defenders Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh as well as midfielder Chinglensana Singh, who all are sidelined due to injuries.
Two junior players Vishal Antil and Pardeep Singh also missed the cut owing to injuries.
According to a statement from HI, all the injured players will continue their rehabilitation at the SAI South Centre in Bangalore.
The position of men’s hockey team’s chief coach is lying vacant after the removal of Harendra Singh following a disappointing World Cup campaign last year, where India crashed out in the quarterfinals.
The Indian team will leave March 18 for Ipoh, Malaysia.
Squad:
(Goalkeepers): P R Sreejesh, Krishan B Pathak; (Defenders): Gurinder Singh, Surender Kumar (vice-captain), Varun Kumar, Birendra Lakra, Amit Rohidas, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam; (Midfielders): Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Manpreet Singh (captain); (Forwards): Mandeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Shilanand Lakra and Sumit Kumar.
PTI