That India don’t take soft looking Russian challenge in the forthcoming Olympic Qualifier easily is evident from the strong team that it announced today for the Belgium-Spain tour. The Europe bound 20-member team is a strong one reinforced with the inclusion of Rupinder Pal Singh, SV Sunil, besides goalie PR Sreejesh. India will play double header against Russia in the last of the Olympic qualifying process in Bhubaneswar in the first week of November.

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will play three matches against Belgium and two matches against Spain.

The Indian team will be Captained by Manpreet Singh and Vice-Captained by Harmanpreet Singh, and will play three matches against Belgium and two matches against Spain.

Lalit Kumar Upadhyay will be making a comeback to the Indian Men’s Hockey Team after the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, while Rupinder Pal Singh, who missed out on the Olympic Test Event, makes a return to the side for the tour of Belgium. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh joins the side after being rested for the Olympic Test Event while Krishan B Pathak is the other goalkeeper in the team.

Defenders Harmanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Birendra Lakra, Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Gurinder Singh, Khadangbam Kothajit Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh have been named in the squad and Midfielders include Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Nilakanta Sharma. India’s forward-line features Mandeep Singh, SV Sunil, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Ramandeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh and Akashdeep Singh.

“We have chosen a strong and experienced group to play in Europe in what will be quite a full match schedule. Lalit Upadhyay will get his first opportunity to impress after an extended injury and Rupinder Pal Singh also comes back in,” expressed Chief Coach Graham Reid about the team selected for the event.

The Australian said that the tour of Belgium will be the perfect preparation for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers match against Russia in Odisha, “With three tests against Belgium, two against Spain and a full training day with the Dutch team, the tour will be a perfect preparation for the FIH Olympic Qualifiers. Belgium are a strong team and if we perform well against them at their own backyard then the team will gain a lot of confidence. We are expecting a tough challenge from Spain as well.”

Indian Team:

Goalkeepers
1. PR Sreejesh
2. Krishan B Pathak

Defenders
3. Harmanpreet Singh (Vice-Captain)
4. Surender Kumar
5. Birendra Lakra
6. Varun Kumar
7. Amit Rohidas
8. Gurinder Singh
9. Khadangbam Kothajit Singh
10. Rupinder Pal Singh

Midfielders
11. Manpreet Singh (Captain)
12. Hardik Singh
13. Vivek Sagar Prasad
14. Nilakanta Sharma

Forwards
15. Mandeep Singh
16. SV Sunil
17. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
18. Ramandeep Singh
19. Simranjeet Singh
20. Akashdeep Singh