New Delhi: India may have finished a poor ninth at the World Cup, but Hockey India continued to repose faith in Sardar Singh, retaining him as captain of the national men's team for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will be the vice-captain of the 16-member squad at the July 23-August 3 event in Glasgow, which will also see forward Gurwinder Singh Chandi making a comeback following a long injury layoff.
Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Harbinder Singh, RP Singh and Arjun Halappa, along with Director of High Performance Roelant Oltmans and chief coach Terry Walsh, shortlisted the players on the basis of their performance during the selection trials conducted here at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on June 30 and July 1.
The preparatory camp is currently underway in the capital and will continue until the team leaves for Scotland on July 12.
India will play their opening match against Wales on July 25, followed by games against Scotland on July 26, Australia on July 29 and South Africa on July 31. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the Indian men's hockey team had won the silver medal.
"The team is in good shape and ready to take on the challenges in the Commonwealth Games 2014. The entire team is showing strong signs of improvement and is dedicated towards overcoming the areas where they are lacking," said Walsh.
Sardar said the team was working on the grey areas. "The whole team is positive about the Commonwealth Games and motivated to perform well in all the matches. We are working on the loop holes by analysing the mistakes made in the matches during the World Cup through video sessions. The efforts have been amplified in order to give our best in the Commonwealth Games," said Sardar.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (vice-capt)
Defenders: Gurbaj Singh, Birendra Lakra, Rupinder Pal Singh, Kothajit Singh, VR Raghunath
Midfielders: Dharamvir Singh, Sardar Singh (capt), Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Manpreet Singh
Forwards: Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Nikkin Thimmaiah
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