Hockey India Unveils Squad for Upcoming Australia Tour: Meet the Players!

Men's Hockey Team Set for Australia Tour

New Delhi: On Monday, Hockey India announced a 24-member men's squad for their upcoming four-match tour in Australia, taking place from August 15 to 21 in Perth. This tour serves as a crucial preparatory phase ahead of the Asia Cup, which is set to occur in Rajgir, Bihar, starting August 29 and will also act as a qualifier for the World Cup.

The team will be captained by the skilled dragflicker and defender, Harmanpreet Singh, and is scheduled to depart from Bengaluru on August 8, where they are currently training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) facility.

Among the selected players, goalkeepers include Krishan Pathak and Suraj Karkera. The defensive lineup features Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Amit Rohidas, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, and Jugraj Singh. Notably, Poovanna CB from Karnataka is a new addition to the squad.

Emerging midfielder Rajinder Singh, often compared to former captain Sardar Singh, has also been included in the squad alongside Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, and Vishnu Kant Singh. The forward line will consist of Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Selvam Karthi, and Aditya Lalage.

Chief coach Craig Fulton emphasized the importance of this tour for enhancing the team's physical fitness and technical skills in preparation for the Asia Cup. He stated, "We are heading to Perth, Australia, to sharpen up ahead of the Asia Cup in Bihar. The focus will be on improving our physical conditioning and technical execution through quality training and warm-up matches."

Fulton also highlighted the opportunity to test younger players in the squad, saying, "We have brought in some younger players to give them valuable exposure and test combinations under pressure. This camp is a key part of our preparation and a chance to build individual and team momentum before competing at home."

Goalkeepers: Krishan B Pathak and Suraj Karkera

Defenders: Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Sanjay, Amit Rohidas, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Jugraj Singh, Poovanna CB

Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Vishnu Kant Singh

Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Selvam Karthi, Aditya Lalage