Hockey India announced an 18-man squad for the upcoming Junior World Cup, which will be held in Lucknow in December. Defender Harmanpreet Singh and striker Mandeep Singh, who have already earned call-ups to the senior team were included in roster.
For Mandeep Singh, this has been a breakthrough year, scoring thrice in the Champions Trophy earlier in the year during India’s excellent campaign, while Harmanpreet Singh was a part of the team for the Rio Olympics.
Vikas Dahiya, who was also in the Rio Olympics squad, has been selected as the first-choice goalkeeper. Krishan B Pathak will be the backup keeper.
Indian coach Roelant Oltmans was buoyant about his side’s hopes and stated that the team has what it takes to clinch gold. “The final combination has been formed keeping in mind the recent results. I believe this team combination is the best we have in junior hockey and the boys are ready both mentally and physically to do everything it takes to stand on the podium. Though our goal is to win the gold medal, we will be taking it match-by-match and the best part is that this group knows how to keep their emotions in check,” Oltmans was quoted as saying by HI.
India’s campaign will start on December 8, where they will be facing Canada in pool D. Their other group games will be against England on December 10th and South Africa on the 12th.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Vikas Dahiya, Krishan B Pathak
Defenders: Dipsan Tirkey, Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Vikramjit Singh, Gurinder Singh
Midfielders: Harjeet Singh, Santa Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Sumit Kumar
Forwards: Parvinder Singh, Gurjant Singh, Armaan Qureshi, Mandeep Singh, Ajit Kumar Pandey, Simranjeet Singh