Chetri to lead Indian hockey team in Four Nation Test Event

Experienced goalkeeper Bharat Chetri will lead an 18—member Indian team in the Men’s Four Nation Olympic Test Event to be held at London from May 2 to 6, Hockey India said on Tuesday.

Star midfielder Sardar Singh will be Chetri’s deputy in the squad, which was announced today by Hockey India (HI) after conducting selection trials at SAI Centre, Bangalore on April 8 and 9.

There were a few changes in the squad with Gurbaj Singh making a comeback and Chinglensana Singh also earning a place.

However, promising India striker Yuvraj Walmiki, who was injured during the Olympic qualifiers, was left out.

The other notable change was defender Rupinderpal Singh, who was put in the standby list after featuring in the main team during the qualifiers in February.

The selection trial was witnessed by HI selectors B P Govinda and Col Balbir Singh, along with Government Observer Harbinder Singh.

The Four Nation Tournament will also feature Australia, Germany and Great Britain and it will not give India not only an opportunity to play against higher—ranked teams, who have also qualified for the Olympic Games, but also to gain a first hand experience of playing at the same venue that will host the London Olympics.

The tournament will be played on the blue artificial turf with yellow balls. The pitch has pink runaways.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (Captain), Sreejesh PR.

Defenders: Sandeep Singh, VR Raghunath, Ignace Tirkey.

Midfielders: Birendra Lakra, Sardar Singh (VC), Manpreet Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Kothajit Singh

Forwards: SV Sunil, Sarvanjit Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Shivendra Singh, Danish Mujtaba, SK Uthappa, Tushar Khandker, Chinglensana Singh.

Standbys: Rupinderpal Singh (Defender), Pradeep Mor (Midfielder), Dharamvir Singh (Forward), Pradhan Somanna (Forward).