India’s Men’s Hockey Team Announced for Asian Champions Trophy in China
Hockey India has named an 18-member Indian men’s hockey team for the prestigious Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China, from September 8 to September 17. The tournament will feature top hockey-playing nations from Asia, including India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and hosts China.
Team Leadership and Composition
The defending champions, India, will be led by ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, with experienced midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad serving as the vice-captain. Following the retirement of PR Sreejesh, the team will have Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera as goalkeepers. The defense lineup includes Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, and Sumit.
The midfield will be formed by Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh, and Mohd. Raheel. The forward line will feature young talents like Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, and debutant Gurjot Singh.
Coach’s Perspective
Chief coach Craig Fulton expressed the importance of this campaign for building ranking points. He noted that the team has returned to camp after celebrating their performance in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Fulton emphasized the opportunity for young players to shine, with Gurjot Singh making his international debut.
“The new Olympic cycle for us begins with the Asian Champions Trophy, and we are ready for the challenge. We want to continue to dominate in the Asian continent and will go to China to retain the title,” asserted Fulton.
Match Schedule
India will start their campaign on September 8 against China, followed by a match against Japan on September 9. After a day’s rest, they will face Malaysia on September 11 and Korea on September 12. India will then take on Pakistan on September 14, with the semi-final and final scheduled for September 16 and 17, respectively.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera |
| Defenders | Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit |
| Midfielders | Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad (VC), Manpreet Singh, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen |
| Forwards | Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh |
Doubts Revealed
Hockey India -: Hockey India is the organization that manages the sport of hockey in India. They select players and organize teams for international competitions.
Asian Champions Trophy -: The Asian Champions Trophy is a hockey tournament where the best teams from Asia compete against each other. It helps teams improve their rankings and gain experience.
Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China -: Hulunbuir is a place in Inner Mongolia, which is a region in China. This is where the hockey tournament will be held.
Harmanpreet Singh -: Harmanpreet Singh is the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team. He is a very skilled player and leads the team in matches.
Vivek Sagar Prasad -: Vivek Sagar Prasad is the vice-captain of the Indian men’s hockey team. He helps the captain and also plays an important role in the team.
Chief coach Craig Fulton -: Craig Fulton is the main coach of the Indian men’s hockey team. He trains the players and makes strategies for the matches.
Ranking points -: Ranking points are used to determine how good a team is compared to other teams. Winning matches in tournaments like the Asian Champions Trophy helps teams earn more ranking points.
Group stage -: The group stage is the first part of the tournament where teams play against each other in groups. The best teams from each group move on to the next round.