K. ARUMUGAM

ACT Team: 8-17th Sept. GKs: Krishan Pathak & Suraj Karkera, Defenders: Jarmanpreet, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet (C) Jugraj, Sanjay, Sumit, Midfielders: Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta, Vivek Sagar (VC), Manpreet, Raheel Forwards: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Hundal, Uttam, Gurjot.

Paris Olympic captain Harmanpreet Singh will lead depending champions India in the forthcoming Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia in China from 8th to 17th September 2024.

The team composition speaks of continuity and the importance powers that be in India accords to the Asian Hockey Federation event. The tournament will see Asia’s top hockey nations South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and hosts China, besides India.

Ten players from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Bronze medal feat are part of this squad while five players — Hardik Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh — have been rested.

The defending Champions will take on hosts China in their campaign opener

“This is an important campaign for us to ensure we build on our ranking points. The team has just returned to the camp after all the celebrations following our performance in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The past few weeks have truly been incredible with all the love and adulation for the team and we hope this support will continue all through our future campaigns,” expressed Chief Coach Craig Fulton.

“The new Olympic cycle for us begins with the Asian Champions Trophy and we are ready for the challenge. While we have rested a few players from the squad that played in Paris, we have brought in a few youngsters who have done well in training and have earned the opportunity to play in Asian Champions Trophy. We will have Gurjot making his international debut, and I believe this is a great opportunity for youngsters who have received a call-up to shine. As a team, we want to continue to dominate in the Asian continent and we will go to China to retain the title,” asserted Fulton.

The Indian team will begin their campaign on 8th September with their first match against China, followed by their match against Japan on 9th. Following a day’s rest, they will take on Malaysia on 11th and play Korea on 12th September. After a day’s break, India will take on nemesis Pakistan on 14th while the Semi-Final and Final will be held on 16th and 17th September respectively.

Indian Team:
Goalkeepers:
1. Krishan Bahadur Pathak
2. Suraj Karkera
Defenders:
3. Jarmanpreet Singh
4. Amit Rohidas
5. Harmanpreet Singh (C)
6. Jugraj Singh
7. Sanjay
8. Sumit
Midfielders:
9. Raj Kumar Pal
10. Nilakanta Sharma
11. Vivek Sagar Prasad (VC)
12. Manpreet Singh
13. Mohd. Raheel Mouseen
Forwards:
14. Abhishek
15. Sukhjeet Singh
16. Araijeet Singh Hundal
17. Uttam Singh
18. Gurjot Singh

Pic: Indian team that won the last ACT in Chennai