Sandeep to lead 18-man squad in Asia Cup

NEW DELHI: Sandeep Singh will lead a 18-man squad as India defend their Asia Cup hockey title in Kuantan, Malaysia, from May 9.


There were four changes to the side that won the Azlan Shah Cup earlier this month. Ignace Tirkey, Sarwanjit Singh, Bharat Chhikara and Shivendra Singh have been replaced by V Raghunath, Vikram Pillay, Rajpal Singh and Hari Prasad. Shivendra, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury, has been put on the stand-by list.

India will attempt to lift the Asia Cup title for the third time after having won it in 2003 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2007 (Chennai).

The winner of the Asia Cup will get an automatic entry to the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Baljit Singh, Adrian D'Souza

Full Backs: Sandeep Singh (captain), Dilip Tirkey, V.Raghunath

Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Ajitesh Roy, Vikram Pillay, Prabodh Tirkey, V.S.Vinaya

Forwards: Tushar Khandker, Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh, S.V.Sunil, Arjun Halappa, Hari Prasad, Gurvinder Singh Chandi

Standbyes: P.R.Sreejesh, Sarwanjit Singh, Bharat Chhikara, Shivendra Singh

PooL A: South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka

POOL B: India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh

Fixture (India's matches):

May 9: India vs. Bangladesh; May 10: India vs. Pakistan; May 12: India vs. China; May 14: semi-finals; May 16: Final

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sandeep-to-lead-18-man-squad-in-Asia-Cup/articleshow/4448787.cms

Sardar, Hari in Indian squad

NEW DELHI: Wingers Sarwanjit Singh and Hari Prasad and midfielder Sardar Singh have been included in the hockey squad that will tour Australia and New Zealand from Thursday.

The two forwards have come in place of Prabhjot Singh and Bharat Chhikara while Sardar Singh will bolster the midfield although he replaces Deepak Thakur in the 18-member squad.

Thakur and Chhikara are nursing injuries sustained in the Punjab Gold Cup while Prabhjot is getting married.

Team:
Goalkeepers: Baljit Singh, Adrian D'Souza.
Fullbacks: Dilip Tirkey, Sandeep Singh, VR Raghunath.
Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, VS Vinay, Vikram Pillay, Prabodh Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey, Sardar Singh.
Forwards: Hari Prasad, Sarwanjit Singh, Shivendra Singh, Rajpal Singh, Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandekar, SV Sunil.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sardar-Hari-in-Indian-squad-/articleshow/4115074.cms