Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 17: Fresh off a celebratory Annual Awards event in New Delhi, the Indian men's hockey team has regrouped at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) facility in Bengaluru for a focused national coaching camp. The camp, which commenced on Monday, features 36 core probables and will run until March 28.
The core group comprises a balanced mix of experienced and emerging talents across all positions. The goalkeepers include Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Pawan, Suraj Karkera, and Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar. The defenders called up for the camp are Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, Amandeep Lakra, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Varun Kumar, and Yashdeep Siwach.
In the midfield, Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen, Vishnukant Singh, Rajinder Singh, and Poovanna CB have been included in the squad. The forward lineup features Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Boby Singh Dhami, Sudeep Chirmako, Selvam Karthi, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, and Uttam Singh.
India had an impressive start to the FIH Hockey Pro League (Men) 2024-25, securing five victories from eight home matches. Their strong performance has placed them third in the points table with 15 points, just behind England and Belgium, who are tied at 16 points each.
Speaking on the objectives of the camp, chief coach Craig Fulton emphasized the importance of fitness, conditioning, and tactical assessments. He noted that the team has had a demanding season with high-intensity matches and that this training phase would focus on refining fitness levels and analyzing recent performances to identify areas for improvement. With the next phase of the Pro League set to take place in Europe, the camp will also serve as a platform for fresh talents to prove their mettle.
With momentum on their side, the Indian squad aims to fine-tune its strategies as it sets its sights on international success in the upcoming matches.