New Delhi: Hockey India has unveiled the 24-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team set to compete in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24, scheduled to take place in Antwerp, Belgium, and London, England. The team announcement came on Thursday, with the prestigious tournament spanning from May 22 to June 12.
India will face off against formidable opponents including Argentina, Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain, playing each team twice across both legs of the league. The campaign kicks off with a match against Argentina on May 22. Currently, India holds the 3rd position in the points table, securing 15 points from eight matches.
Leading the team as Captain will be Harmanpreet Singh, with dynamic midfielder Hardik Singh appointed as his deputy. The goalkeeping duties will be shared between PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak, while the defensive lineup includes Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, and Vishnukant Singh.
The midfield section will be bolstered by Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Hardik Singh, Rajkumar Pal, and Mohd. Raheel Mouseen. The forward line features a talented array of players including Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, and Boby Singh Dhami.
Commenting on the team selection, Chief Coach Craig Fulton expressed confidence in the squad’s preparation, stating, “We have been training hard at the camp and have developed an understanding of each other’s gameplay. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, we will play against top quality teams which will help us build on our game and get better through.”
Captain Harmanpreet Singh echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are looking forward to getting on with the season in the Olympic year with the FIH Hockey Pro League where we will play top-quality teams. We have chosen a squad to give players exposure and it will also allow me to see some of the players in competition mode ahead of the Paris Olympics.”
The team has undergone rigorous training sessions at the SAI, Bengaluru camp, focusing on areas of improvement and refining their gameplay ahead of the challenging tournament. With high spirits and determination, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team is geared up to make their mark in the FIH Hockey Pro League and set the stage for a successful Olympic campaign.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team:
Goalkeepers:
- Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran
- Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders: 3. Jarmanpreet Singh
- Amit Rohidas
- Harmanpreet Singh
- Sumit
- Sanjay
- Jugraj Singh
- Vishnukant Singh
Midfielders: 10. Vivek Sagar Prasad
- Nilakanta Sharma
- Manpreet Singh
- Shamsher Singh
- Hardik Singh
- Rajkumar Pal
- Mohd. Raheel Mouseen
Forwards: 17. Mandeep Singh
- Abhishek
- Sukhjeet Singh
- Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
- Gurjant Singh
- Akashdeep Singh
- Araijeet Singh Hundal
- Boby Singh Dhami
