Hockey enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that the 24-member Indian men’s hockey team for the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 has been unveiled by Hockey India. The team will be participating in the matches to be held in Antwerp, Belgium and London, England. The thrilling tournament will see the Belgium leg kick off on 22nd May and conclude on 30th May, followed by the England leg commencing on 1st June and ending on 12th June.
The Indian team will face off against tough competitors Argentina, Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain twice each across both legs, with their first match being against Argentina on 22nd May. Currently, India is holding 3rd position in the points table, having accumulated 15 points from eight matches.
Leading the team as Captain will be Harmanpreet Singh, with the dynamic midfielder Hardik Singh serving as his deputy. The crucial goalkeeping responsibilities will be shouldered by PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak, while the defensive line-up includes Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, and Vishnukant Singh.
The midfield section will be managed by talented players such as Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Hardik Singh, Rajkumar Pal, and Mohd. Raheel Mouseen. The formidable forward line will consist of Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, and Boby Singh Dhami.
Chief Coach Craig Fulton commented on the team selection, stating, “We have been training rigorously and have developed a strong understanding of each other’s gameplay. Our upcoming matches against top quality teams will be invaluable in helping us improve and refine our skills as we prepare for the Paris Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed the team’s eagerness, stating, “We are excited to kick off the season in this Olympic year with the FIH Hockey Pro League and compete against top-quality teams. The squad has been carefully chosen to provide players with valuable exposure and allow for assessment ahead of the Paris Olympics.”
All matches of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 will be available for streaming on JioCinema, while India matches will be televised on Sports18 – Khel. With such a talented and dedicated team representing India, hockey fans can undoubtedly look forward to an exhilarating and action-packed tournament.