No Gurbaj in squad for Europe tour

Experienced midfielder Gurbaj Singh, as expected, was missing from the 21-member Indian men’s hockey team announced on Monday for the upcoming preparatory tour of Europe.

The 15-day tour, from July 31 to August 14, would see India play two matches against France and three against Spain. The tour is part of the team’s preparations for the FIH Hockey World League Finals, to be held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh, later this year.

India was initially expected to play a couple of matches against the Netherlands as well but the plan was changed following the controversy and termination of coach Paul van Ass. It would be India’s first tour since Roelant Oltmans was named the chief coach.

Attitude problem

Though the selection trials were held during the ongoing rehabilitation camp in Shilaroo from July 22 to 23, the decision to drop Gurbaj had already been taken following adverse reports about his attitude during the recent HWL Semifinals in Antwerp.

Hockey India has decided to meet and counsel him before the team’s training resumes in September.

Senior defender V.R. Raghunath, midfielders Kothajit Singh and Danish Mujtaba and forward S.V. Sunil all come back for the tour after recovering from injuries.

Also making the cut was Gurjinder Singh and youngsters Mohd. Amir Khan and Mandeep Singh in the attack.

Manpreet Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Satbir Singh, Gurmail Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki have been omitted.

“It’s a very important series for us as this will be a base to understand how we perform and deliver as a unit and the grey areas to be improved before the HWL Finals (in December). Based on that performance, our next step will then be the Rio Olympics,” Oltmans said.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: P.R. Sreejesh, Harjot Singh; Defenders: Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Jasjit Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurjinder Singh; Midfielders: Sardar Singh, Chinglensana Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Satbir Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Devinder Walmiki; Forwards: S.V. Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Talwinder Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Mohd. Amir Khan.