Hockey India announces team for Champions Challenge I
Hockey India announced the national team for the Champions Challenge I, dropping former skipper, Rajpal Singh and Ignace Tirkey due to ill-health and injuries. The crucial tournament is scheduled to be held from November 26 to December 4, in Johannesburg,
South Africa.
The tournament is featuring teams from India, Argentina, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Belgium, Poland and South Africa.
Considering the tough competitions in the Olympic Qualifiers, Hockey India decided to test new faces in the event, giving rest to the injured players.
Indian Hockey Coach, Michael Nobbs, did not have any option other than to induct new players in the absence of legendary names like Rajpal Singh and Ignace Tirkey, who were suffering from injuries.
He decided to weigh the worth of Birendra Lakra and Chinglensana Singh Kangujam in the coming tournament.
Former skipper, Rajpal, underwent an appendix surgery during the recently concluded Australian tour while his teammate, Tirkey, is suffering from a knee injury.
Tirkey, the vice-captain of the national team, was replaced by Tushar Khandekar in the Australian tour, when he received a knee fracture.
Michael Nobbs, while speaking to the media, stated that the absence of senior players gave him a chance to test the endurance of youngsters. He reiterated, “It is a chance for us to test some players and I will not bother about the results”.
Hockey India also ruled out the names of Gurvinder Singh Chandi and Bharat Chikara from the chosen squad.
On the other hand, Shivendra Singh made a comeback into the team after missing the sport for a few months. He was suffering from a collarbone injury that he encountered during the national camp, back in July.
The selection committee once again reposed its confidence in Bharat Chetri, who has 116 international caps to his credit, for the captainship.
Indian team is comprised of Bharat Kumar Chetri, Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Manjeet Kullu, Rupinder Pal Singh, VR Raghunath, Sandeep Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Arjun Halappa, Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Sarvanjit Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, SV Sunil,
Danish Mujtaba, Tushar Khandker, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and Shivendra Singh.
Meanwhile, Hockey India, is mulling to host hockey series with top teams ahead of the qualifiers to counter the World Series Hockey (WSH).
The WSH, declared unsanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Hockey India, is set to be played from December 17, 2011 to January 22, 2012.
Hockey India, however, is working to brazen out the unofficial league through numerous means. On its first priority, it is working to invite its arch-rival, Pakistan, for a bilateral series to catch the audience.
HI Secretary General, Narinder Batra, stated “Yes, we are planning to organise a number of matches for both the men's and the women's team before the Olympic Qualifiers”.
However, he rejected the impression that the matches were being organised to compete with the rebel league for eyeballs, saying that the preparations for the Olympic Qualifiers will be their main aim behind this series.
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