Dhanraj Pillay recalled, Bharat Chetri replaced, Devesh Chauhan and Gagan Ajit Singh dropped in the 16-member Indian team that would take part in the 9-Nation Prime Minister Gold Cup in Bangladesh. The IHF has announced the today. Five players – Bipin Fernandez, Probhjoth Singh, Inderjeet Singh, Chetri, Radhakrishanan – are making debut at senior level. Though name of Rajinder Singh, under whose training India A won the Cairo Cup last week, figures in the coach list, it is reliably learnt that Cedric D’Souza will make it to Dhaka. V.B Singh will be the umpire and Dr.JPS Sidhu manager cum doctor. Physiotherapist Saju Joseph and Asst.Coach C.R. Kumar will also be accompanying the team
The team
Jude Menezes,
Bharat Chetri,
Dilip Tirkey,
Dinesh Nayak,
Lajrus Barla,
Bipin Fernandes,
Baljit Saini,
Tirumal Valavan,
Radhakrishnan,
Arjun Halappa,
Dhanraj Pillay,
Baljit Dhillon,
Probhjot Singh,
Inderjeet Singh,
Deepak Thakur,
Daljit Dhillon,
Yesterday News
Chennai, March 8: The Indian Hockey Federation has postponed the announcement of team for Dhaka 9-Nation by a day. According to K Jothikumaran, the IHF Secretary, the team will be announced officially tomorrow. However, it is gathered that four juniors who gained entry into the main team were goalkeeper Bharat Chetri of Darjeeling, Arjun Halappa (Karnataka), Inderjeet Singh (Chandigarh) and Radhakrishnan(Tamil Nadu). The foursome played the Cairo Tournament which India won this week.
The Indian forward line has been strengthned by the inclusion of Dhanraj Pillay. The Secretary hinted that the 25 probables were shortlisted to 16 which will be the likely team for Dhaka. The Dhaka bound team will leave on Friday evening and the final team will be announced on morrow.
Cedric D’Souza, the chief coach of the Indian team will be joining the team on Sunday as he is not yet recovered fully from the viral infection which affected him on the eve of German series. He is still undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
C R Kumar, the assistant coach, who will be accompanying the team to Dhaka, said that the present team with mix of experience and youth. Likely team: Jude Menezes, Bharat Chetri, Dhanraj Pillay, Lajrus Barla, Dinesh Nayak, Dilip Tirkey, Baljeet Singh Dhillon, Daljit Singh Dhillon, Baljit Singh Saini, Thirumalvalavan, Radhakrishnan, Bipin Fernandez, Prabjoth Singh, Deepak Thakkur, Inderjeet Singh and Arjun Halappa.