On Tuesday Harmanpreet Singh was appointed as the captain of 22 members of the Indian hockey team for the season-opening of FIH pro league matches against Spain and New Zealand in Bhubaneshwar. Manpreet Singh will role as his deputy.
On October 28, India will schedule its campaign against New Zealand and on 30 October will take on Spain. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet will lead the team as a host and ably assisted by the experienced mid-fielder Manpreet. On 2nd November the host will play in the second tie against New Zealand. And it was decided to face off with Spain on 6 November.
This time the team also see some new faces in Mohd Raheel Mouseen, who was a part of India’s Victorious outgoing in the FIH hockey 5’s earlier his year. As well as S Kartik who played his maiden tournament for India at the Asia Cup Jakarta.
The chief coach Graham Reid said “we are looking forward to expanding the leadership skills of the group with Harmanpreet Singh as a captain for these first four matches”
Midfielders who are named to represent team India are SUMIT, MANPREET SINGH, HARDIK SINGH, MOIRANGTHEM RABIN CHANDRA SINGH, SHAMAHER SINGH, RAJKUMAR PAL and MOHD RAHEEL MOHSEN.
At the Asia cup held in Jakarta, S Kartik is awarded for his fabulous performance earlier this year. He will play alongside with the experienced mid-fielders Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh.
All the matches are to be played at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium which will also host the men’s world cup in January next year. According to the official’s statement” we have chosen the experienced squad to play the first two rounds of the pro league starting this weekend in Bhubaneswar. Even that we also have two new players playing in the pro league. Our team include the goalkeepers Krishnan Bahadur Pathak and PR Sreejesh. Among defenders, we include Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Mandeep Mor, Jugraj Singh and Neelam Sanjeev Xess.”