Young drag-flicker Gurjinder Singh and forward Lalit Upadhyay have been included in the 18-member Indian team for the Champions Trophy hockey tournament to be held at Bhubaneswar from December 6 to 14.
Gurjinder, who has worked hard on his fitness and played well against Australia in Perth, has been added as the third drag-flicker along with the established duo of V.R. Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh.
Roelant Oltmans, who has stepped in as the coach for the Champions Trophy following the exit of Terry Walsh, said: “Gurjinder deserved the spot. We see how he has improved in the last half year. He has improved his fitness level.”
The Dutchman said Upadhyay replaced Gurwinder Singh Chandi, who was nursing a groin injury. “We had to choose between Mandeep (Singh), Lalit and Yuvraj (Walmiki). Lalit (won the spot because he) performed well on the Australian tour.”
On striker Mandeep Singh’s absence, Oltmans said he needed to take a step back to be part of the junior team, and improve his skills in open play.
Oltmans avoided queries related to Walsh’s absence, and asserted that the team’s morale was high.
“We know there are distractions everywhere in every process. At this level, we only have to look forward to the Champions Trophy, and make sure we prepare ourselves as well as possible,” he said.
“The boys are training hard, eager to learn and open to suggestions, and I am sure when the Champions Trophy starts they will be ready.”
“I need all the energy in me to make sure the team is going to perform well.”
Even as captain Sardar Singh and midfielder Manpreet Singh sat out a few drills due to minor fitness issues, Oltmans said he had to use his players carefully, heading into an important tournament and with a hectic calendar ahead.
The National moves to Bhubaneswar later this week.
The team:
Goalkeepers: P.R. Sreejesh (vice-captain), Harjot Singh;
Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Gurjinder Singh;
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh (captain), Dharamvir Singh, Danish Mujtaba, S.K. Uthappa;
Forwards: Ramandeep Singh, S.V. Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Lalit Upadhyay.
