Chetri named captain for tour of Australia
BANGALORE: Karnataka’s Bharat Chetri has been named the captain of the Indian hockey team’s three-week tour of Australia in October. Chetri, who had a fine outing at the Asian Champions Trophy which India won in Ordos, China, earlier this month, will be assisted by vice-captain Ignace Tirkey, also from Karnataka.
India will play test matches in Perth against Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan after a nine-a-side Super Series with the same teams. In all likelihood, Korea too may figure in the test matches.
Chetri, 30, succeeds Rajpal Singh, who led India in Ordos, and will be closely watched by chief coach Michael Nobbs who is in the process of identifying players who can lead from the front.
Chetri, originally, from Darjeeling, shifted base to Bangalore in 1997 when he joined the Centre of Excellence in SAI. “God is great,” said Chetri. “I am happy that I have got a chance to lead India.”
Ignace, 33, who hails from Sundargarh in Orissa, has been here for many years now, working for Madras Engineers Group and turning out for Army XI in the Karnataka league. In fact, Ignace has led India on many occasions in the past, including the 2006 CWG and the India-Pakistan series.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (captain), PR Sreejesh.
Defenders: Manjit Kullu, Rupinderpal Singh, VR Raghunath, Sandeep Singh.
Midfielders: Ignace Tirkey (vice-captain), Gurbaj Singh Vikas Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Vikram Pillay, Arjun Halappa, Sardar Singh.
Forwards: Danish Mujtaba, Ravi Pal, Sarvanjit Singh, Rajpal Singh, Yuvraj Valmiki, SV Sunil, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Tushar Khandker, Bharat Chhikara.
Anjum to lead women’s team
Striker Saba Anjum will lead an 18-member Indian women’s hockey team to Australia next month for a four-match Test series against the hosts followed by a three-nation nine-a-side International Super Series .
Squad: Yogita Bali, E Rajani (goalkeepers), Joydeep Kaur, Preety Sunila Kiro, Jaspreet Kaur (defenders), Asunta Lakra Kirandeep Kaur, Ritu Rani, P Sushila Chanu, Mukta Prava Barla Deepika (midfielders), Forwards Saba Anjum (Captain), Jasjeet Kaur Handa (vice captain), Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Rani, Soundarya Yendala, Rosalin Dung Dung (strikers).