Baljit not among 48 for Asian Champs Trophy

Bangalore: Goalkeeper Baljit Singh, who made a comeback to the Indian hockey camp after two years in wilderness, could not make the core group and was left out of the 48-strong list of probables for the first Asian Champions Trophy in September.

The three-day trials to prune the list of probables for the event concluded at the Sports Authority of India Centre here last evening.

Baljit's selection for the camp had created quite a buzz about the 29-year-old goalkeeper, who was sidelined after a golf ball hit his right eye during practice in 2009.

There was fear of him losing vision but corrective surgeries later, he was back on the field even though he admitted that the layoff nearly destroyed his composure.

But he could not make the cut for the probables' list.

The rest of the group has no surprises to offer with familiar faces getting the selectors' nod.

Hockey India Selectors Col. Balbir Singh, BP Govinda, Thoiba Singh and AB Subbaiah - besides Government Observer Dilip Tirkey - witnessed the trials.

The Asian Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played at Ordos, China, from September 3 to 12 where the first six of the 2010 Guangzhou Asiad shall participate.

The teams are Pakistan, Malaysia, India, South Korea, Japan and China.

The selection committee shortlisted the 91 campers to the core group of 48 probables for future tournaments.

The coaching camp had commenced on July 1 and will conclude on July 31, Hockey India said in a statement.

The second phase of the camp will also be held at Bengaluru from August 8 until departure to China on August 28 with 18 players.

Probables:

Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri, Adrian D'Souza, PR Sreejesh, Kamaldeep Singh.

Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Sandeep Singh, William Xalxo, VR Raghunath, Harpreet Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Diwakar Ram.

Midfielders: Sardar Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Vikram Pillay, Arjun Halappa, Vikas Sharma, Vikram Kanth, Bharat Chikara, Danish Mujtaba, Prabodh Tirkey, Vikas Pillay, Birender Lakra Jr., Ravi Pal, Ignace Tirkey, Manjit Kullu, Kothajit, Manpreet Singh, Ajitesh Roy.

Forwards: Rajpal Singh, SV Sunil, Tushar Khandker, Amar Aiyamma, Mandip Antil, Shivendra Singh, Bikas Toppo, Sarvanjit Singh, Roshan Minz, Nithin Thimmaiah, Prabhdeep Singh, Banmali Xess, Akashdeep Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Pradhan Somanna, Prabhjot Singh, Yuvraj Valmiki, Dharamvir Singh, Chinglinsana, Ramandeep Singh.