The Indian staff’s journey of replicating their Tokyo Olympics success on the World Cup commenced on Friday as Hockey India (HI) introduced an 18-member squad that may search for the nation’s first medal on the quadrennial occasion in 48 years.
India’s main drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, who captained India for the primary time through the Professional League in October-November in a bid to “enhance the management group”, has been chosen by chief coach Graham Reid and the choice panel to steer the world No 6 outfit on the January 13-29 World Cup.
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Manpreet Singh, who led India to an Olympic medal after a spot of 41 years in Tokyo, was changed as captain by defender Amit Rohidas through the 2021-22 Professional League too earlier than returning as skipper on the Birmingham Commonwealth Video games in July-August the place India completed with silver following a disappointing 0-7 loss to Australia within the last. Rohidas might be Harmanpreet’s deputy in Odisha.
Reid has chosen an skilled squad with 13 of the 19 who represented India at Tokyo making the minimize for the World Cup. Manpreet, Rohidas, Harmanpreet together with Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, PR Sreejesh, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Mandeep Singh and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay gained the bronze a 12 months and a half again. Krishan Bahadur Pathak went to Tokyo however didn’t medal as was a reserve and didn’t play even a single recreation.
Goalkeeper Sreejesh might be taking part in his fourth World Cup and third on residence soil. The midfield might be boosted with the return of Prasad, who missed the current tour of Australia in addition to the Professional League matches towards New Zealand and Spain resulting from an ankle harm.
The six different Tokyo medallists who didn’t make the minimize had been Sumit, Gurjant Singh and Dilpreet Singh, who had been within the 33 core probables and gave trials earlier this week on the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru. Simrajeet Singh wasn’t even within the camp whereas Rupinder Pal Singh and Birendra Lakra have retired.
In the meantime, Akashdeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh are the non-medallists who might be aiming to make their mark in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
Skilled ahead Akashdeep, who additionally performs as a midfielder relying on the requirement of the sport, was heartbroken when he wasn’t chosen for Tokyo. He returned to the drafting board to enhance his abilities and confidence to return to the squad. The 28-year-old was in sensational kind within the Check collection towards Australia the place he scored 4 objectives in three video games, together with a hat-trick.
Whereas Jarmanpreet has been an everyday within the Indian staff publish the Olympics, Xess has been performing constantly for the staff in occasions just like the Asia Cup, Professional League and Check collection versus Australia, convincing the choice committee. From a really humble background, Xess’s village is barely 45 minutes away from Rourkela the place he’s hoping his farmer dad and mom will come to see his play.
Each Abhishek and Sukhjeet made their worldwide debuts earlier this 12 months and have been going from power to power, impressing the management group. Abhishek scored a aim in solely his second worldwide towards South Africa in February. Sukhjeet scored on his debut towards France, additionally in February. Sukhjeet was chosen within the senior nationwide camp in 2018 too earlier than an acupuncture mishap partially paralysed him for six months earlier than recovering and at last making the Indian staff this 12 months.
“The World Cup is an important ‘hockey solely’ match there may be. A house World Cup places additional significance and strain on this occasion like no different. Each nation chooses the most effective staff they imagine is offered to them on the time and tries to offer their staff with the most effective preparation they will. We’ve got additionally tried to do each with the collection of our Indian World Cup staff, selecting a mix of skilled and youthful thrilling gamers who can present one thing particular,” mentioned Reid, who might be taking the staff to Rourkela subsequent week to acclimatise to the brand new floor.
“We’ve got additionally had an incredible preparation over the past two months together with a house Professional League collection and a really powerful tour to Australia towards the world No 1. We’re wanting ahead to attending to Odisha and put the ending touches to our preparations for what might be an thrilling and difficult match forward.”
Rajkumar Pal and drag-flicker Jugraj Singh have been included as alternate gamers, a rule launched by the worldwide hockey federation (FIH) publish the Covid-19 pandemic.
India have been grouped in Pool D with world No 5 England, No 8 Spain and No 15 Wales and can start their marketing campaign on January 13 towards Spain on the newly constructed Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium – the most important in India with a capability of 20,000 spectators – in Rourkela. They are going to play England on January 15 on the similar venue earlier than transferring to Bhubaneswar for last group match towards Wales on January 19. The knockouts – all in Bhubaneswar – will start with crossover matches on January 22 and 23 with the quarter-finals scheduled on January 24 and 25. The semi-finals might be held on January 27 with the ultimate on January 29.
India have medalled solely thrice on the World Cup. They gained bronze within the first version in 1971 earlier than claiming silver two years later in 1973. It was in 1975 that India gained their solely title when the Ajit Pal Singh-led squad defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 within the last in Kuala Lumpur.
India’s 18-member squad:
Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, PR Sreejesh
Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas (vice-captain), Nilam Sanjeep Xess
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Akashdeep Singh
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh
Alternate gamers: Rajkumar Pal, Jugraj Singh