Harmanpreet Singh was on Wednesday named captain and Hardik Singh his deputy as Hockey India announced a 16-member squad for next month's Paris Olympics, featuring five Games debutants and a handful of seniors from the previous edition. (More Hockey News)
India, who won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, are placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Belgium🧔, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
T𝔍eams finishing in the top four in the pool's points table will advance to the quarter-finals. The Indian players are currently busy preparing for the Olympics in their national camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
The venerable goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and midfielder Manpreet Singh are set fo🤡r their fourth Olympic appearance while skipper Harmanpreet is bra💦cing up for his third Games.
The five players who will make their Olympics debut for India in Paris are Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay,﷽ Raj Kumar Pal, Abhish🍸ek and Sukhjeet Singh.
Since their historic show in Toဣkyo, where the team won an Olympic medal after a gap of 41 years, Indian defenders Rupinderpal Sing💙h and Birendra Lakra have retired whereas Surender Kumar has been out of favour.
Nilkanta Sharma, who was part of the main squad in Tokyo has been kept among the alternative players but Dilpreet Singh misse🐽d out. Goalkeeper Krishan Pathak will continue to be an alternate player in second successive Olympics.
The defence includes Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet, Amiওt Rohidas, Sumit and Sanjay, while the midfield ꦆwill have Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Abhishek, Sukhj💎eet, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh aওnd Gurjant Singh will be among India's forwards.
Defender Jugraj Singh is India's third alternative player𓆏 apart from Pathak an🧔d Nilkanta.
Head coach Craig Fulton was quoted as saying, "The selection process for the Paris Olympics' squad was incredibly🎉 competitive due to the depth of talent within our ranks, however, I am confident that every player chosen will bring thဣeir best to Paris."
"Each player selected has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication𝓡, and resilience throughou𓃲t our rigorous preparation phase."
Fulton cont♊inued, "Our focus has been on building a cohesive team that can adapt to different playing styles and situ✤ations, and I believe we have achieved that."
"As꧙ we head to Paris, our goal is clear – to play with heart, skill, and determination. We are prepared to face the world's best teams and strive for the highest podium. This squad is ready to seize the opportunity and bring glory to India," he added.
India will begin their campaign against New Zealand on July 27 followed by a clash against Argentina on July ✨29. India will then take on Ireland on July 30, Belgium on August 1 and face Australia on August 2.
India have a total of 12 Olympic♛ medals, including eight gold, one silver and three bronze.
Pool A comprises the Nethe🍌rlands, Germany,𒁏 Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and host nation France.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team for Paris 2024 Olympics:
Goalkeepers:
1. Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran
Defenders:
2. Jarmanpreet Singh
3. Amit Rohidas
4. Harmanpreet Singh
5. Sumit
6. Sanjay
Midfielders:
7. Rajkumar Pal
8. Shamsher Singh
9. Manpreet Singh
10. Hardik Singh
11. Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards:
12. Abhishek
13. Sukhjeet Singh
14. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
15. Mandeep Singh
16. Gurjant Singh
Alternate Athletes:
17. Nilakanta Sharma
18. Jugraj Singh
19. Krishan Bahadur Pathak
