Deepak Bijawad to lead Karnataka

BANGALORE: Deepak Bijawad will spearhead South Zone champions Karnataka's challenge in the 64th edition of the Senior National Hockey Championship for the Rangaswamy Cup, which gets under way at the KSHA stadium on Wednesday.
The team had a week-long preparatory camp under the watchful eyes of coach Ramesh Parameswaran for the championship which returns to the city after 16 years.
Karnataka, who have never won the title since the Nationals began in 1928, will look to capitalize on the home advantage. They take on West Zone toppers Mumbai in the opener. Other teams in the six-team single-pool competition are Punjab (North), Uttar Pradesh (Central), Manipur (North East) and Jharkhand (East). Top two teams play the final on May 16.
"We have a good team of youngsters. The tournament is an opportunity for them to prove their potential," Ramesh said. The Indian Hockey Federation has requested Hockey India to allow umpires from neighbouring states to officiate in the tournament.
Karnataka State Hockey Association advisor RK Shetty said the institutional teams rejected their invitation to play in the tournament. "We invited Railways but they said they are affiliated to Hockey India," he said.
Karnataka squad:
Goalkeepers: SG Sambran, Mahan Gowda.
Defenders: Deepak Bijawad (captain), K Ponnanna, AD Cariappa.
Midfielders: Rathan Muthanna, Vinayaka Bijawad, Nagasrini, Naveen Manupati, Teja Babu.
Forwards: Umesh, KR Rajesh, Biju BY, Md Nayeem, Chengappa PS, Honnurswamy, Boney Marshal, Kusha. Participating teams: Karnataka (South), Punjab (North), Uttar Pradesh (Central), Manipur (North East), Jharkhand (East), Mumbai (West).