Selvam Karthi Returns to Indian Men's Hockey Team Ahead of FIH Pro League

Indian Men's Hockey Team Gears Up for European Challenge

The Indian Men's Hockey Team is gearing up for the European segment of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25, where they will compete against formidable teams such as the Netherlands, Argentina, Australia, and Belgium. Notably, forward Selvam Karthi is making his return to the national camp, as announced by Hockey India.

Expressing his excitement about rejoining the national squad for the first time since the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai 2023, Karthi stated, “I am thrilled to be back in the national camp. There’s a lot of work ahead, and my goal is to secure a spot in the final roster for the FIH Hockey Pro League. I have been diligently training on my own, and now my focus is on maintaining that momentum to ensure I am part of the Indian Men's Hockey Team for the upcoming major tournaments,” as per Hockey India’s release.

As the Indian Men's Hockey Team prepares for the challenges in June during the FIH Hockey Pro League, the 23-year-old forward is eager to leave his mark.

Karthi, who has previously toured Europe with the national team, shared his aspirations for the upcoming month: “Having played in Europe before, it won’t feel unfamiliar, but my objective is to perform well for the Indian Men's Hockey Team, score crucial goals, and make a significant impact.”

He further elaborated, “My initial goal was to make a comeback to the national team, and now that I’m here, I aim to excel so that I can be part of the squad traveling to Europe. I hope to give my best and contribute positively to the team.”

Originating from Tamil Nadu, Karthi discussed his interactions with the leadership of the Indian Men's Hockey Team.

He mentioned, “The coaches have been very supportive, encouraging me to focus on my fitness and finishing skills in front of the goal. These are areas I am continuously working on.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming matches in the FIH Hockey Pro League, Karthi acknowledged the challenges posed by their opponents. “The Netherlands, being the Olympic Gold medallists, will undoubtedly be a tough challenge, but we believe we can leverage our strengths against them. Belgium, Australia, and Argentina also play a fast-paced style of hockey, similar to ours. Therefore, we need to adapt to the game situations effectively to achieve positive outcomes,” he remarked.

“We are currently putting in a lot of effort during training and even adding extra sessions as we prepare for the upcoming matches. I am working both with the team and individually in the camp to enhance my performance,” he concluded.