Sardar to lead India hockey team for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

 | New Delhi, India | 23 March 2016 | Asia Samachar |

Hockey India on Monday announced an 18-member Indian team led by Sardar Singh that will take part in the 25th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from 6 to 16 April.

S Sunil will support him as the vice-captain, according to a PTI report.

Besides two goalkeepers, Harjot Singh and Akash Anil Chikte, the squad will have five defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Jasjit Singh Kular, Kothajit Singh, Surender Singh, Harmanpreet Singh.

The midfield will be under the leadership of skillful Sardar and he will be assisted by Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, S K Uthappa, Harjeet Singh. India’s frontline will consist of Sunil, Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Nikkin Thimmaiah.

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Besides India, New Zealand, 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Australia, Pakistan, Japan, Canada and hosts Malaysia will be taking part in the annual tournament.

With the 2016 Rio Olympics few months down the line, the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will serve has as a barometer to measure the team’s preparation for the most important sporting event of the year.

“India has a good record in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and we would like to keep it that way. Being an Olympic year, this tournament assumes special importance as it will give us an idea where we stand,” says Sardar Singh in the same report.

“Playing against good teams like Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan and not to forget hosts Malaysia will give the team critical competition exposure. It will be a good opportunity trying out new things and new combinations in the tournament to see if they work.”

In preparation for the tournament, the Indian men’s team is currently undergoing a training camp that started on 7 March at the SAI Centre in Bangalore, it adds.

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