NEW DELHI, Jan 27: Star midfielder and Olympic bronze medal-winning captain Manpreet Singh will lead a 20-member strong Indian hockey team in the double-leg FIH Pro League ties against South Africa and France to be held 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 squad. Jugraj came into the senior national camp for the first time after impressing national selectors during the first Hockey India Senior Men Inter Department National Championship.
Abhishek, on the other hand, is a striker who was earlier part of the junior program and had played for the India colts in Sultan of Johor Cup in 2017 and 2018.
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.
“After a three-week camp in Bengaluru, a team has been selected that includes 14 Tokyo Olympians and two debutants,” India’s chief coach Graham Reid said in a statement.
The team will leave for South Africa from Bengaluru on February 4. India will play France in their first match on February 8.
Indian hockey squad
Goalkeepers: P R Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (VC), Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh (C), Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Akashdeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Abhishek.
Standbys: Suraj Karkera, Mandeep Mor, Raj Kumar Pal, Sumit, Gursahibjit Singh. (PTI)
