New Delhi: Looking to build on their positive show in the Asian Champions Trophy, India on Friday named a 18-strong team for their men’s hockey tour Down Under beginning November 23. Defender V.R. Raghunath was handed captaincy duties in the absence of injured goalkeeper Sreejesh P.R., for a three-week tour that will involve a four-nation tournament followed by a three-match test series against the hosts.
Raghunath joins the squad after being rested for the Asian Champions Tophy, while Manpreet Singh is back from injury to bolster the midfield. Defender and drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who was the top scorer in the ACT, will be Raghunath’s deputy. Focus is clearly on merit and future talent with coach Roelant Oltmans rewarding those who performed consistently in Malaysia.
Young Akash Chikte, who revelled under pressure in the final against Pakistan in Malaysia, will shoulder goalkeeping duties while Uttar Pradesh’s Abhinav Kumar Pandey is the second custodian in the squad. Mohammad Amir Khan and Satbir Singh are the new faces in the attack. Said Oltmans, “Abhinav has been in and out of the camps. He has had a knee injury for a while but has made a strong comeback and we are pleased with his performance in this camp.”
