Hockey India announces 33 member men’s senior core group to prepare for internationals

The 33 probables were picked from 60 players, called at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Bengaluru for a three-week camp.

On Tuesday, Hockey India announced its 33 member men’s senior core group, getting prepared for major international tournaments starting this year with FIH Hockey Pro League in the next month.

The 33 probables were picked from 60 players, called at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Bengaluru for a three-week camp. Based on their past performances in various Hockey India Domestic tournaments, the first 60 players were chosen.

Advertisement

The core group consists of senior players like PR Sreejesh, Captain Manpreet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Mor, Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, and Sukhjeet Singh.

Sanjay and Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, who participated in the men’s junior World Cup last December in Bhubaneshwar, have also been selected under the core group. Apart from the 33 probably, Simranjeet Singh and Gurinder Singh will stay at the SAI, Bengaluru as they will undergo rehabilitation.

Chief coach Graham Reid said that they have used the last three weeks to observe the next layer of players in the country. Today, they have come up with 33 which allows them to refresh and introduce some new faces into the squad. He also says that it’s an important year for them and the new squad will give them the strength to face challenges.

“One certain thing was all 60 players who had come into the national camp improved during the three weeks of camp making it extremely difficult to pick the final 33 for the core group”, said Graham Reid to PTI.

The Core Probables

Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Suraj Karkera

Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Dipsan Tirkey, Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Mandeep Mor, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh

Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Jaskaran Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Ashis Kumar Topno

Forwards: Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Akashdeep Singh, Gursahibjit Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Moh. Raheel Mouseen

In Rehabilitation: Simranjeet Singh and Gurinder Singh