NEW DELHI, July 12: In a significant but surprise move, India today named senior goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the captain of the national team for the Rio Olympics, removing long-standing skipper Sardar Singh.
Sreejesh, one of the finest custodians in world hockey at the moment, was rewarded after the team, under his leadership, ended up with a silver medal at the Champions Trophy in London, their best-ever result in the 38-year-history of the blue riband six-nation tournament.
The team played a brilliant final where they held eventual champions Australia to a goalless draw in the regulation time before losing in a controversial shoot-out.
Squad: PR Sreejesh (goalkeeper and Capt), Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, VR Raghunath, SK Uthappa, Danish Mujtaba, Devinder Walmiki, SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah.
Chief Coach: Roelant Oltmans, Analytical Coach: Roger van Gent, Coach: Tushar Khandker, Scientific Advisor: Matthew Eyles, Physiotherapist: Shrikant Iyengar, Video Analyst: Aadhithya Chakravarthy, Masseur: Arup Naskar, Doctor: Kenjom, Ngomdir. (PTI)
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