Rajpal to lead hockey team
New Delhi, Aug. 30: Striker Rajpal Singh was on Monday named captain of the 16-member hockey squad for the Delhi Commonwealth Games beginning October 3.
Interestingly, the side has only one goalkeeper in Bharat Chetri and five defenders, including Sandeep Singh, who was awarded the Arjuna Award here on Sunday.
Regular custodian Adrian D’Souza has been kept as a standby. Though the international teams have been following the norm of one goalkeeper in major tournaments, this is the first time that the Indian think-tank has decided to do so. The practice, according to chief coach Brasa, gives the team the advantange of fielding an extra player, who can be handy during rolling substitution.
Chetri performed well during the team’s recent Europe tour, but his selection ahead of regular goalkeeper D’Souza leaves a lot to be desired. Arjun Halappa will head the midfield, which includes the likes of Vikram Pillay, Bharat Chikkara and Danish Mujtaba. Rajpal will lead the forward line-up along with Shivender Singh, Tushar Khandker and Dharamvir Singh.
“The team was selected after the trials conducted in Pune in the presence of Hockey India selectors Col. Balbir Singh and B.P. Govinda, government nominees Ajitpal Singh and Zafar Iqbal besides the two coaches,” Hockey India said in a statement.
Squads for CWG
Men’s
Goalkeeper: Bharat Chetri (Canara Bank).
Defenders: Sardar Singh (Haryana), Sandeep Singh (Haryana), Dhananjay Mahadik (Services), Gurbaj Singh (Air India) and Prabodh Tirkey (Air India).
Midfielders: Arjun Halappa (Air India), Vikram Pillay (Air India), Ravi Pal (BPCL), Bharat Chikara (Indian Oil), Danish Mujtaba (UP) and Sarvanjit Singh (PSB)
Forwards: Rajpal Singh (Indian Oil), Tushar Khandker (BPCL), Shivendra Singh (Air India), Dharamvir Singh (Indian Oil).
Women’s
Goalkeepers: Dipika Murty and Etimarpu Rajani.
Defenders: Binita Toppo, Subhadra Pradhan and Joydeep Kaur.
Midfielders: Asunta Lakra, Kirandeep Kaur, Mukta Prava Barla, Deepika Thakur and Ritu Rani.
Forwards: Surinder Kaur, Saba Anjum, Rani, Jasjeet Kaur Handa, Thokcham Chanchan Devi and Poonam Rani.
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