Hero Men’s Asia Cup: Hockey India names 20-member squad

~ Experienced drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh will Captain the team along with Birendra Lakra named as Vice-Captain in Hero Men’s Asia Cup~
 

Hero Men’s Asia Cup, New Delhi, 09 May 2022: Hero Men’s Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 23rd May to 1st June 2022 as Hockey India on Monday named a 20-member Indian Men’s Hockey team. The prestigious event which is a World Cup qualifier will see India, Japan, Pakistan, and hosts Indonesia in pool A while Malaysia, Korea, Oman, and Bangladesh are grouped in pool B. 

The Defending Champions India will be led by Olympic Bronze Medalists Rupinder Pal Singh and Birendra Lakra will shoulder the responsibility as Vice-Captain. The team will see as many as 10 players make their senior India debut. This includes FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup players Yashdeep Siwach, Abhisek Lakra, Manjeet, Vishnukant Singh, and Uttam Singh. Also new on the team will be Mareeswaren Sakthivel, Sheshe Gowda BM, Pawan Rajbhar, Abharan Sudev, and S Karthi. 
 

The Indian team includes goalkeepers Pankaj Kumar Rajak, Suraj Karkera, defenders Rupinder Pal Singh, Yashdeep Siwach, Abhisek Lakra, Birendra Lakra, Manjeet, Dipsan Tirkey, Vishnukant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Mareeswaren Sakthivel, Sheshe Gowda BM, Simranjeet Singh. Forwards Pawan Rajbhar, Abharan Sudev, SV Sunil, Uttam Singh, and S.Karthi have also been named in the squad. 

Also read: Hero I-League: Mohammedan SC match against Rajasthan United

Junior World Cup players Maninder Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess have been named as replacement players while Pawan, Pardeep Singh, Ankit Pal, and Angad Bir Singh have been named as standbys. 

Speaking about the team composition, Coach BJ Kariappa said,

“The team is a good mix of experienced senior players and newcomers, many of whom have played at the international level in different age-group matches but have not made their Senior India debut. Since India has already qualified for the FIH Men’s World Cup by virtue of being the hosts, this will be a good platform for us to try out this new group and test how these players utilize the opportunity.” 

Former India Captain and two-time Olympian Sardar Singh who will also accompany the team as Coach expressed that the players have shown great potential over the last few months during the national camp.

“This is a very talented group of players and I have seen them work really hard over the past few weeks to earn a place in the team. On a personal front, this will be my first tournament as India Coach and I am looking forward to this new experience,” stated Sardar. 

Hero Men’s Asia Cup: Indian Men’s Team:

Goalkeepers

1. Pankaj Kumar Rajak 

2. Suraj Karkera 

Defenders

3. Rupinder Pal Singh (Captain)

4. Yashdeep Siwach 

5. Abhisek Lakra

6. Birendra Lakra (Vice Captain) 

7. Manjeet 

8. Dipsan Tirkey 

Midfielders

9. Vishnukant Singh 

10. Raj Kumar Pal 

11. Mareeswaren Sakthivel 

12. Sheshe Gowda BM 

13. Simranjeet Singh 

Forwards

14. Pawan Rajbhar 

15. Abharan Sudev 

16. SV Sunil 

17. Uttam Singh 

18. S.Karthi 

Replacement Players

19. Maninder Singh 

20. Nilam Sanjeep Xess

Standbys:
1. Pawan
2. Pardeep Singh 
3. Ankit Pal 
4. Angad Bir Singh