New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Hockey India (HI) Monday announced a young team for the third Asian Champions Trophy to be held at Kakamigahara, Japan, Nov 2-10.
HI selectors B.P. Govinda, R.P. Singh, Arjun Halappa, director high performance Roelant Oltmans, foreign coach of junior team Gregg Clark and juniors’ coach Baljeet Singh Saini along with government observer Harbinder Singh selected 18 players with six standbys during the trials conducted at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Oct 9-10.
“With the Indian junior team preparing for the forthcoming World Cup to be held in New Delhi, the Asian Champions Trophy gives us an opportunity to allow our junior players to showcase their skills and gain experience in the international environment. Out of the 18 selected, 13 were part of the Indian junior team that won the recently concluded third Sultan of Johar Cup in Malaysia,” HI secretary general Narinder Batra said.
India finished runners-up last year while in 2011, India won the first edition.
The teams participating in the 2013 tournament are China, Japan, Malaysia, Oman and Pakistan.
India will open its campaign against China Nov 2.
The team will be captained by midfielder Manpreet Singh while midfielder Kothajit Singh will be vice-captain.
Goalkeepers: Sushant Tirkey, Harjot Singh
Defenders: Gurjinder Singh, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Sukhmanjit Singh, Pardeep Mor
Midfielders: Prabhdeep Singh, Manpreet Singh (Captain), Satbir Singh, Harjeet Singh, Imran Khan, Kothajit Singh (Vice-Captain)
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).