New Delhi: Former captain Sardar Singh was recalled to the Indian hockey team while Birendra Lakra was included to shore up the defence line-up for the upcoming Champions Trophy, beginning June 23 in Breda, the Netherlands. Hockey India (HI) announced the 18-man squad for the last edition of the prestigious event and made a lot of changes to the side, to be led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
Sardar was not part of the Indian team, who had a disappointing outing at the Gold Coast CWG. He was expected to reclaim his place in the side after being included in the national training camp in Bangalore. Also making a comeback to the side is Lakra, who like Sardar, was not part of the CWG squad.
The selectors have dropped defenders Rupinder, Kothajit Singh and Gurinder Singh while Haramanpreet Singh and Surendra Kumar were included. Among the strikers, the axe fell on Lalit Upadhyay and Ramandeep Singh was included in his place.
Sreejesh, under whose captaincy India won a silver in the last edition, said the team is determined to do well. “I think that was the closest we came to winning the gold and most importantly beating Australia. Though we had to settle for second place, it was a memorable tournament. This time too, we want to make it a great one as it’s the last edition of the prestigious event,” said Sreejesh.
Chief coach Harendra Singh made it clear that the players have to do well to be in the reckoning for a place in the Asian Games squad.
“It is an extremely important tournament for the players to showcase their talent as the team for the forthcoming Asian Games in Jakarta will be picked on the basis of performance at the Commonwealth Games and the Champions Trophy,” Harendra asserted.
India will begin their campaign June 23 at the Champions Trophy against arch rivals Pakistan.
The squad: (Goalkeepers): PR Sreejesh (captain), Krishan Bahadur Pathak; (Defenders): Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Amit Rohidas; (Midfielders): Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Sardar Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad; (Forwards): SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh Mandeep Singh, Sumit Kumar (Jr) Akashdeep Singh and Dilpreet Singh.