NEW DELHI : India today dropped four key players, including ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and midfielder SK Uthappa, from its 18-member men’s squad for the Hockey World League (HWL) Semifinal to be played in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20 to July 5.
Besides Rupinder and Uthappa, strikers Mandeep Singh and Satbir Singh were the other two players to face the axe.
All the four dropped players featured in last month’s Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, where India finished a creditable third, and the four-match bilateral Test series against Japan which India won 3-0.
Defenders Jasjit Singh Kular and Gurmail Singh, midfielder Lalit Upadhyay and striker Yuvraj Walmiki were recalled in the side for the 10-nation tournament.
In the Test series against Japan, India fielded an experimental squad of 24 where Gurmail, Jasjit, Lalit and Yuvraj also featured.
Ace midfielder Sardar Singh, who has to his credit 216 international caps, has been retained as the captain of the side, while goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will continue to be Sardar’s deputy.
Harjot Singh is the second goalkeeper in the team, while defence will be manned by Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh, Kothajit Singh, VR Raghunath, Jasjit and Gurmail.
The five-man midfield will be manned by Sardar in the company of Gurbaj, Dharamvir, Chinglensana and Lalit while the forwardline comprises of SV Sunil, Nikkim Thimmaiah, Yuvraj, Akashdeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh. (AGENCIES)
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