Rupinder ,Birendra make a comeback in squad for Hockey World League final.
2 big names dropped
Hockey’s biggest governing body in India, Hockey India (HI) on Thursday announced the squad for Hockey world league final starting December 1,2017 in Bhubaneshwar’s Kalinga stadium . Axing the big names in the likes of Sardar Singh & Ramandeep Singh who were part of the squad which won Asia Cup last month in Dhaka, triggers the clear indication of selectors showing much belief in youth who are physically fit and fast on the turf. Ace centre back ,Rupinder Pal Singh finds his name in the Indian team after 165 days.
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“We are focussing on young players to deliver it for us and that’s why the veterans are finding it tough to be in the team ,our main focus is on the players from 2016 Junior mens team and form a core team for Hockey World Cup 2018,” a Hockey India official told Digital Sporty.
Seven players from the Junior mens team that lifted the Junior World cup in 2016 are named in the team.While India(Rank 6) starts its campaign on the opening day against the defending champions Australia(Rank 2) in a group A encounter.Germany(Rank 5) and England(Rank 7) are other two teams in the group . Indian team will be led by the 25 year old midfielder Manpreet Singh with Chinglensana Singh as his deputy .
The team will have dragflick-options in Rupinder, Harmanpreet, Varun, Amit and Dipsan. “We have five players in defence who can drag and have been putting in extra hours for PC training which is great for the team,”Team’s coach Sjoerd Marine said.
Forwards
SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Gurjant Singh.
Dropped: Satbir Singh ,Ramandeep Singh
Midfielders
Manpreet Singh (captain), Chinglensana Singh (vice-captain), SK Uthappa, Sumit, Kothajit Singh.
Dropped: Sardar Singh
Defenders
Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Dipsan Tirkey, Varun Kumar, Rupinderpal Singh, Birendra Lakra.
Dropped: Surender Kumar .
Goalkeepers
Suraj Karkera ,Akash Chitke
