Indian hockey team for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup announced

03/21/2016

The Indian men’s hockey team for the 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Malaysia from April 6 to 16 was announced on Monday. Sardar Singh will lead the 18-member squad for the tournament, which also features World Champions Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Canada.

While Sardar Singh will lead the team as captain, SV Sunil will be supporting him as the vice-captain. Besides the two goalkeepers Harjot Singh and Akash Anil Chikte, the squad will also have five defenders in Rupinder Pal Singh, Jasjit Singh Kular, Kothajit Singh, Surender Singh, Harmanpreet Singh.

Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh and defender V R Raghunath are not part of the team with the duo being rested ahead of the Rio Olympics in August.

With the 2016 Rio Olympics few months down the line, the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will serve as a barometer to measure the team’s preparation for the all important quadrennial event.

“India has a good record in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and we would like to keep it that way. Being an Olympic year, this tournament assumes special importance as it will give us an idea where we stand. Playing against good teams like Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan and not to forget hosts Malaysia will give the team critical competition exposure. It will be a good opportunity trying out new things and new combinations in the tournament to see if they work,” said Sardar Singh, captain of the team.

In preparation for the tournament, the Indian men’s team is currently undergoing a training camp that started on March 7, 2016 at the SAI Centre in Bangalore.

“The boys have been working hard as a unified unit and are geared up for the tournament ahead. Azlan Shah will be good testing ground for us right before the Rio Olympics and will be very crucial for the team. We are focused on improving the game technically and implement the right strategies.” said chief coach Roelant Oltmans, as per a Hockey India press release.

The Indian Men's Hockey team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup:

Goalkeepers: Harjot Singh, Akash Anil Chikte

Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Jasjit Singh Kular, Kothajit Singh, Surender Singh, Harmanpreet Singh

Midfielders: Sardar Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, S K Uthappa, Harjeet Singh

Forwards: SV Sunil, Talwinder Singh, Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Mandeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh

(Also, take a look at the Indian women's hockey team for the Hawke's Bay Cup)