Bengaluru: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist
Vivek Sagar Prasad will lead the Indian team at the FIH Odisha Hockey men's Junior World Cup, which gets under way in Bhubaneswar on November 24. Hockey India named an 18-member squad on Thursday with defender Sanjay as Vivek’s deputy.
India are the defending champions and open their campaign against France on the opening day.
Speaking about the team selection, chief coach Graham Reid said, "Each of these guys have put their everything into trying to make this team for the last 12-18 months. Through Covid, sanctions and lockdowns, huge sacrifices have been made. It is a well-balanced side with a lot of flexibility and flare. The key to these guys performing on the big stage will be to trust in each other and trust in their preparation.”
On the tournament being played in an empty stadium, the Australian said, “Even though the ground will be empty, the Olympics have proven that the spectacle of hockey can still be enjoyed by everyone involved."
Dinachandra Singh Moirangthem and Boby Singh Dhami are the alternate players who will be allowed to play only if there is an injury or someone in the 18-member squad is ruled out of the tournament due to Covid-19.
The other teams in the fray are Belgium, The Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, Korea, Malaysia, Poland, France, Chile, Spain and USA.
Indian squad: Shardanand Tiwari, Prashant Chauhan (GK), Sanjay (VC), Sudeep Chirmako, Rahul Kumar Rajbhar, Maninder Singh, Pawan (GK), Vishnukant Singh, Ankit Pal, Uttam Singh, Sunil Jojo, Manjeet, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem,
Vivek Sagar
Prasad (C), Abhishek Lakra,
Yashdeep Siwach
, Gurmukh Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal.