Squad for FIH Odisha Hockey WC announced

New Delhi, Dec 23 :The wait is finally over as Hockey India on Friday announced the 18-member team who will represent India at the prestigious FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela.
The Indian team grouped in pool D along with England, Spain and Wales will begin their campaign on January 13 in the newly-built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.
Ace dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh has been named the captain of the squad with Amit Rohidas as the Vice Captain. The team, strategically selected after two-day trials in SAI Centre, Bengaluru where 33 players were put to test, features a good mix of experienced and young players who will vie to end India’s wait to stand on the podium in the prestigious event.
Krishan B Pathak and PR Sreejesh, who will be playing his fourth World Cup – his third on home soil, have been chosen as goalkeepers while the Indian team’s defence will be spearheaded by the Captain Harmanpreet Singh along with Vice Captain Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess.The midfield will see the return of young prodigy Vivek Sagar Prasad, who missed the recent tour of Australia as well as the FIH Hockey Pro League due to an ankle injury. He will be joined by Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh and the experienced Akashdeep Singh.
The forwardline will feature Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and youngsters Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh who continue to impress after making their debut earlier this year. The two alternate players chosen are Rajkumar Pal and Jugraj Singh.