Star midfielder and Olympic bronze medalist captain Manpreet Singh will lead a 20-man strong Indian hockey team in the double leg FIH Pro League against South Africa and France from February 8-13.
Manpreet will be assisted by ace dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh.
Young dragflicker Jugraj Singh and striker Abhishek are the two new faces in the team.
Jugraj, who hails from Attari, entered the senior national camp for the first time, when he impressed the national selectors during the first Hockey India Senior Men’s Inter Department National Championship, where he became a member of the Services Sports Control Board.
Abhishek, on the other hand, is a striker, who was earlier a part of the junior program and played for India in the Sultan of Johor Cup in 2017 and 2018.
From Sonepat, Haryana, Abhishek also did well in the 1st Senior Men Inter Department National Championship for Punjab National Bank, helping him make it to the Senior National Camp for the first time.
The 20-member squad also includes goalkeepers PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak; Defenders Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh and Jugraj.
The midfield will be under Manpreet’s watch and also includes Neelkant Sharma, Hardik Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Shamsher Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad.
The forward line consists of Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Akashdeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek.
“After a three-week camp in Bengaluru, a squad has been selected which includes 14 Tokyo Olympians and two debutants,” India’s head coach Graham Reid said in a statement.
Keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic, India will travel with four additional players in addition to keeping five extra players on hand.
“We have tried to pick an experienced group that will not only give us a great chance to start this season of the FIH Hockey Pro League on a positive note, it reflects the high quality that we will face in the opening games.
“We are also using this opportunity to make the debut of two new players. Jugraj Singh is a versatile defender/midfielder who adds to our dragflick options and Abhishek is a strong, fast striker who loves to score goals,” the Australian added.
The Indian team will leave for South Africa from Bengaluru on February 4.
India will play France in their first match on February 8 and will take on hosts South Africa the next day.
The Indian team will play France again on February 12 and then conclude their schedule against South Africa the next day.
Both the two-match matches will be held in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Indian hockey team
Goalkeeper: PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak.
Protector: Harmanpreet Singh (Vice-Captain), Amit Rohidas, Surendra Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh.
Midfielder: Manpreet Singh (Captain), Neelkant Sharma, Hardik Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Ahead: Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Akashdeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Abhishek.
Stan by: Suraj Karkera, Mandeep Mor, Raj Kumar Pal, Sumit, Gursahibjit Singh.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And coronavirus news Here.
,