K. ARUMUGAM
India takes part in all age-group Asian Hockey Federation Championships. However, it doesn’t have a regular national under-18 or below age group teams. It might sound strange for a hockey nation of its size and success. Indian age group teams except U-21 are formed based on need, meaning whenever a tournament comes, mostly from the AHF stable.
The last under-18 tournament India participated was in 2016 held in Dhakka, Bangladesh.
Against this backdrop, forming a national U-17 team for both genders is a welcome team. The teams were announced the other day, and are now in Amsterdam, Netherlands to participate in a series of friendly matches.
This step of non-Batra Hockey India is a welcome one.
These age group teams are base of the hockey pyramid and sure to make talent pool broader and deeper.
Its now matter of past that India, despite its vast appeal and vertical growth, did not have many age group teams such as U-18 etc.
The Indian Sub-Junior boys’ will square off against The Netherlands Boys U18 once and the Netherlands Boys U16 twice. Meanwhile, our Sub-Junior Women will engage The Netherlands Girls U18 once and the Netherlands Girls U16 twice.
Celebrated former players Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal have been appointed as chief coach of the respective gender team.
The coaches and the team have already reached Amsterdam.
U-17 BOYS TEAM:
GOALKEEPER: Rahul Bhadwaj; DEFNDERS: Ashu Maurya, Neeraj, Pradip Mandal, Rohit Kullu, Sohil Ali, Sukhmanpreet Singh, Ujjwal Pal; MIDFIELDERS: Ghuran Lohra, Manmeet Singh Rai, Rahul Rajbhar, Rahul Yadav, Rohit Tirkey, Suresh Sharma Adhikarimayum; FORWARDS: Ajeet Yadav, Deepak Pradhan, Ketan Kushwaha, Ritender Pratap Singh, Rohit Irengbam Singh, Srijan Yadav
COACHES & SUPPORT STAFF
Coach: Sardar Singh, Asst. Coach: Lajarus Barla
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Anand Luis Menezes
Physiotherapist: Prasad Jayaram Kuckian, Masseuse: Ashvani Kumar Yadav
U-17 Girls team: