The Indian men's hockey team for the European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 has been announced. Hockey India has prioritized experience, selecting a 24-member squad for this prestigious tournament commencing June 7th.
Sports News: Hockey India announced a 24-member Indian men's team on Thursday for the European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League. This leg will be played in Amstelveen, Netherlands, and Antwerp, Belgium, starting June 7th. The Indian team will begin their European leg with two matches against the Netherlands on June 7th and 9th. Following this, they will play a 'double header' against Argentina in Amstelveen on June 11th and 12th.
India's Focus on Experience and Balance
Veteran defender and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh will once again captain the team, with Hardik Singh appointed as vice-captain. Head coach Craig Fulton commented on the team selection, stating, "We wanted a bit more experience in the team this time. I believe this team is well-prepared for a better performance in the Pro League. Training has been good, and we are ready to give our best."
European Leg Schedule and Challenges
The Indian team will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on June 7th and 9th. This will be followed by matches against Argentina on June 11th and 12th in Amstelveen. The team will then travel to Antwerp, Belgium, where they will face Australia on June 14th and 15th and finally, the hosts Belgium on June 21st and 22nd.
This leg is crucial for India as the top team in the FIH Pro League will secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, India's focus will be solely on winning.
New Faces, Some Veterans Omitted
The team size has been reduced from 32 to 24 after the Bhubaneswar leg. Players omitted this time include defender Varun Kumar, midfielders Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, and forwards Bobby Singh Dhami, Arjit Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, Angad Bir Singh, and Arshdeep.
Craig Fulton clarified that, until now, they haven't drawn any matches, which is a strategic weakness. They need to learn to convert losses into draws to secure points in shootouts. The Indian team is currently ranked third in the Pro League table. They secured 15 points from 5 wins out of 8 matches in the home leg. India will strive to maximize points in the remaining 8 matches to secure a World Cup berth.
Indian Hockey Team
- Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera.
- Defenders: Sumit, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, and Yashdeep Siwach.
- Midfielders: Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Rajinder Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh.
- Forwards: Gurjant Singh, Abhishek, Silanand Lakra, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh.
