Injured Sunil and Manpreet Singh out of Asian Champions Trophy

10/14/2016

Forward SV Sunil and halfback Manpreet Singh have been ruled out of the Indian men's hockey squad for the Asian Champions Trophy, starting on October 20, Malaysia, due to injuries. Winger Ramandeep Singh and midfielder Akashdeep Singh will now travel to Kuantan in place of the duo.

India will travel to Malaysia for the Asian Champions Trophy, their first major tournament after the Rio Olympics, without their key players SV Sunil and Manpreet Singh. Sunil continues to suffer from a wrist injury that had surfaced during India's match with Canada at the Rio Olympics.

Manpreet, who has been named the team's vice-captain recently, has picked up a groin injury, and Rupinder Pal Singh will now step in to deputize for PR Sreejesh for the event that will feature Asia's top 6 teams.

Head coach Roelant Oltmans has gone for like-for-like replacements by picking winger Ramandeep Singh and midfielder Akashdeep Singh for the tournament.

"We have several options and I don't see this as a setback for us at all. We will most probably play Pardeep Mor and Akashdeep on the midfield for this tournament," Oltmans told PTI, on Friday.

India will face Japan in the first match of the Asian Champions Trophy on October 20.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (Captain), Akash Chikte.

Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh (Vice Captain), Pardeep Mor, Jasjit Singh Kular, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar.

Midfielders: Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Akashdeep Singh, Sardar Singh, SK Uthappa, Devindar Walmiki.

Forwards: Talwinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Affan Yousuf.