Rajpal omitted from Olympic probables
Former Indian captain Rajpal Singh and experience forward Arjun Halappa are the notable omissions from the Indian hockey probables for the London Olympics. Having earned their ticket to play at the London Olympics after a resounding 8-1 victory France in the Olympic Qualifiers at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here last night, a series of coaching camps will be held for the men probables at SAI Centre, Bangalore, from March 5.
Hockey India announced here today that prior to the commencement of the Olympic Games in London from July 12, the Indian will play at various tournaments overseas. HI has received invitations for two four-nation Tournaments at Lahore (Pakistan) and Santandar (Spain), besides the Olympic Test events in London and the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia.
Hockey India selectors Col. Balbir Singh, B.P. Govinda and Syed Ali, alongwith Government Observers Harbinder Singh and Dilip Tirkey, besides chief coach Michael Nobbs held a selection meeting today to decide on the Core Group of Probables for future camps.
They unanimously selected the 48 probables who would be in consideration for the team that would play in the Olympic Games.
The List of probables is:Goalkeepers:Bharat Chetri,PR Sreejesh,Naveen Kumar,Harmanpreet Singh and Nanak Singh; Defenders:Sandeep Singh,VR Raghunath,Rupinder Singh,Manjit Kullu,Gurjinder Singh,Harbir Singh,Amit Rohidas and Rahul Shilpkar; Midfielders:Ignace Tirkey,Kothajit Singh Sardar Singh, Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh ,Vikas Sharma, Gurbaj Singh, VS Vinaya, Bharat, Pardeep Mor and SK Uthappa; Forwards:Yuvraj Walmiki,Tushar Khandker,Shivendra Singh,Danish Mujtaba,Sarvanjit Singh,SV Sunil,Gurvinder Singh Chandi,Pradhan Sommanna,Roshan Minz,Malak Singh,Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam,Ramandeep Singh Nithin Timmaiah,Dharamvir Singh, Mandip Antil, MB Aiyappa, Gurmail Singh, Arjun Antil, Damandeep Singh, Prabhdeep Singh, Ranjit Singh, Mandip Singh and MG Poonacha.