CHANDIGARH, JULY 3 : Midfielder Sardar Singh of Haryana Police, with 186 caps, has been appointed captain of the Indian team which will compete in the Commonwealth Games to be held at Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3. Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh (100 caps) will be the vice-captain.
The team was selected by Hockey India selectors Mr. B P Govinda, Mr. Harbinder Singh, Dr. R P Singh and Mr. Arjun Halappa alongwith Director High Performance Mr. Roelant Oltmans and Chief Coach Mr. Terry Walsh on the basis of their performance during the selection trials conducted at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on June 30 and 1 July 1.
India will play their first match against Wales on July 25 followed by a head- on with Scotland on July 26, Australia on July 29 and South Africa on July 31. In the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Indian men hockey team had won the silver medal.
The preparatory camp of the Indian team is currently underway at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi until the departure of the team on July 12 for Scotland to participate. .
Chief coach Terry Walsh said “The team is in good shape and ready to take on the challenges in the Commonwealth Games 2014. The entire t am is showing strong signs of improvement and is dedicated towards overcoming the areas where they are lacking.”
Captain Sardar Singh said “The whole team is positive about the Commonwealth Games and motivated to perform well in all the matches. We are working on the loop holes by analyzing the mistakes made in the matches during the World Cup through video sessions. The efforts have been amplified in order to give our best in the Commonwealth Games.”
The team:
Goalkeeper: P R Sreejesh (100 Caps) Vice-Captain.
Defenders: Gurbaj Singh (164 Caps), Birendra Lakra (71 Caps), Rupinder Pal Singh (89 Caps), Kothajit Singh (71 Caps), V R Raghunath (160 Caps).
Forwards: Ramandeep Singh (11 Caps), Akashdeep Singh (41 Caps), S V Sunil (137 Caps), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (97 Caps), Nikkin Thimmaiah (11 Caps).