New Delhi: India skipper Sardar Singh has been rested for the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy as Hockey India announced a young 18-member squad to be led by midfielder Manpreet Singh for the tournament in Kakamigahara, Japan from November 2-10.
Manpreet led India admirably during the 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup and guided the junior team to victory.
The upcoming tournament will be good preparations for the Junior World Cup, scheduled in December and the squad includes 13 players from the side that won the colts’ title recently.
Kothajit Singh has been named the vice-captain for the six-nation tournament that involves China, Japan, Malaysia, Oman and Pakistan.
India will open their campaign against China on November 2.
India, who won the inaugural competition, finished runners-up after losing to Pakistan 4-5 in 2012.
The squad was selected during trials conducted here on October 9-10.
Indian squad: Goalkeepers: Sushant Tirkey, Harjot Singh; Defenders: Gurjinder Singh, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Sukhmanjit Singh, Pardeep Mor; Midfielders: Prabhdeep Singh, Manpreet Singh (Capt), Satbir Singh, Harjeet Singh, Imran Khan, Kothajit Singh (Vice-Capt); Forwards: Malak Singh, Mandeep Singh, Talwinder Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh.
Standbys: Jagdeep Dayal (Goalkeeper), Gagandeep Singh (Defender), Jarmanpreet Singh (Defender), Lalit Upadhyay (Midfielder), Affan Yousuf (Forward), Amon Mirash Tirkey (Forward). (PTI)