Sardar Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh were rested while P.R. Sreejesh and V.R. Raghunath were recalled as Hockey India named an 18-member squad for next month’s Champions Trophy.
In a continuation of its policy of rotation ahead of the Olympics, India made six changes to the side that had travelled to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April.
Sreejesh and Raghunath, who had been rested from the Malaysia trip, returned, while goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya and Pradeep Mor were promoted from the junior side. Devinder Walmiki, who has recovered fully from his shoulder injury, made a comeback, while Akashdeep Singh took Ramandeep Singh’s place up front.
After the Champions Trophy (June 10 to 17 in London), India will travel to the Six Nations Invitational Tournament (June 27 to July 5) in Valencia.
“If you look at how much these guys (Sardar and Rupinder) have played over the last couple of years, it’s time for a break,” said the chief coach, Roelant Oltmans, at the SAI here on Tuesday. “In Valencia, I want all the seniors to be back in the team. So there was no other option than to give them a break right now, which will absolutely help us at the Olympics.”
At the Champions Trophy, India will face Great Britain, Germany, Australia, South Korea and Belgium. Four of those opponents will be at the Olympics, with Germany in Group ‘B’ alongside India in Rio. “Let’s first wait and see which team Germany is sending,” Oltmans cautioned. “They will probably send their development team. Because they will also come to Valencia, where I expect them to be with a full squad.”
Sreejesh, who has been named captain, believed the team would learn to cope without Sardar. “There will be a difference,” he said. “But Manpreet (Singh) and Harjeet (Singh) can solve the issue well. We are not dependent on any one player. If Sardar (Singh) goes out for five minutes during a match and somebody has to fill in for him, we’re ready for that. I used to play every match until I was rested for the Azlan Shah Cup.
“Somebody replaced me and he did the job better. The seniors need rest before Rio.”
The squad: P.R. Sreejesh (capt.), Vikas Dahiya, Pradeep Mor, V.R. Raghunath, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Devinder Walmiki, Harjeet Singh, Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, S.V. Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, and Nikkin Thimmaiah.
