Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh on Wednesday returned to lead a 24-member squad for the European leg of next month’s FIH Pro League, a crucial assignment that will serve as preparation for the upcoming Hockey World Cup beginning on August 15.
The ace drag-flicker had missed the Hobart leg of the Pro League in February due to personal reasons but is now back to spearhead the Indian side as it gears up for a series of challenging encounters against top international teams in Europe. The Indian team will first travel to Brussels for a short training camp and a friendly match scheduled between June 7 and 9. Following the preparatory camp, the squad will head to Rotterdam from June 10, where India will play Pro League matches against Germany and the Netherlands between June 14 and 21.
After completing the Netherlands leg, the Indian side will travel to London for the final phase of the tour, where they are scheduled to face arch-rivals Pakistan and England in Pro League fixtures from June 23 to 28. The selected squad reflects a balanced mix of experienced campaigners and emerging young talent as the team management looks to finalise its core group ahead of the World Cup. Harmanpreet, who will once again marshal the defence, will be supported by a strong backline comprising Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh and promising youngster Amandeep Lakra.
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India’s midfield responsibilities will be led by the experienced trio of Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad, along with Raj Kumar Pal and other midfield options. The forward line boasts several attacking talents, including Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek and Selvam Karthi, all of whom are expected to play key roles in India’s offensive strategy during the European tour.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, forwards Araijeet Singh Hundal and Maninder Singh, defender Poovanna Chandura Boby and midfielder Vishnu Kant Singh have been named as standby players.
About the squad selection, India head coach Craig Fulton said the team’s preparations have been progressing well and the players are in good condition ahead of the important assignments. “Training has been going really well and the squad is in great shape. The FIH Pro League matches in Holland and England in June are exactly what we need — tough tests against world-class opposition that will tell us exactly where we stand in our World Cup preparations,” Fulton said. “We are looking forward to the challenge,” he added.
The squad includes goalkeepers Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar and Suraj Karkera; defenders Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Amandeep Lakra, Jarmanpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh; midfielders Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem; and forwards Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra and Selvam Karthi.
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