HI picks balanced side for CWG

After months of experimentation, Hockey India finally settled for a balanced squad for April's Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast with coach Sjoerd Marjine stating that a core group of 24 will be finalised next month from which squads for Asian Games and World Cup will be chosen.

To be captained by attacking midfielder Manpreet Singh, the squad for CWG sees experienced goalkeeper P R Sreejesh back in action.  

Seasoned Rupinder Pal Singh will form the defensive bedrock and will have exciting young players like Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas for company. The four will also be in charge of drag-flick although Rupinder and Harmanpreet will be the two main options.

The midfield also wears a balanced look with Manpreet and his deputy  Chinglensana Singh Kangujam being the seasoned names while  Sumit and Vivek Sagar Prasad will provide the flair of youth.

The same applies to the strike force with SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh and Mandeep Singh being the experienced legs while Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Dilpreet Singh have been granted a big opportunity to showcase their talent.

Wearing a relaxed look despite finishing a disappointing fifth at the just-concluded Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Marjine expressed confidence about India's chances at CWG. "Commonwealth Games is very important for us because we want to assess ourselves in a big tournament and this is a big tournament. It will help us improve for the next two big ones -- Asian Games and the World Cup. Commonwealth Games and the Champions Trophy will help us achieve our goal of winning gold at two big tournaments."

India has been slotted in a tricky group that has arch-rivals Pakistan, dangerous Malaysia, a strong England and Wales. Pakistan will be coached by Roelant Oltmans, who was unceremoniously sacked as India's coach last year.  Marjine, who was the Indian women's team coach, was given Oltmans' job thereafter. Marjine chose not to read too much into the sub-plot.

"We will focus on ourselves. Whether we play Pakistan or England or Australia, it doesn't matter. It's about our own performance. We have to do our key things well. Of course, you're going to watch clips of the other countries and you have to know what they're doing. But we've trained really hard and we're ready for the first match against Pakistan. Oltmans is there and he knows a lot about India but a few things have also changed in the last few months. It will be a really good challenge," the Dutchman said.

With four big events lined up this year, Marjine said he's figured out his core group and the rotation policy will come to an end after CWG. "The squad will be going back to 24 after the CWG. The squads for Asian Games and World Cup will be chosen from the 24. Another group of 24 will also be training alongside but the  focus will be on the core 24."

Squad: Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Suraj Karkera.

Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh  Kadangbam, Gurinder Singh, Amit Rohidas.

Midfielders: Manpreet Singh (capt), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (vice-capt), Sumit, Vivek Sagar Prasad.

Forwards: Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh.