Rajpal and Ignace Tirkey omitted

Former captain Rajpal Singh and veteran midfielder Ignace Tirkey were the notable omissions from an 18-member Indian hockey team announced on Friday for the FIH men’s Champions Challenge I from November 26 to December 4 in Johannesburg.

Tirkey was vice-captain of the team during the recent tour of Australia and has been replaced by forward Tushar Khandekar. Other notable omissions were forwards Bharat Chikara, Ravipal and Gurvinder Singh Chandi.

Striker Shivendra Singh also returns to the team after remaining on the sidelines for a few months with a freak collarbone injury that he suffered during a national camp in Bangalore in July this year.

India has been drawn in Pool A of the championship along with Belgium, Poland and host South Africa. Birendra Lakra and Chinglensana Singh Kangujam are the new faces in the team.

The team will be led by goalkeeper Bharat Kumar Chetri who has 116 international caps.

The team:Bharat Kumar Chetri (GK and captain), Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran (GK), Manjeet Kullu, Rupinder Pal Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Sandeep Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Sardara Singh, Arjun Halappa, Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Sarvanjit Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, S.V. Sunil, Danish Mujtaba, Tushar Khandker (vice-captain), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Shivendra Singh.

The schedule:Nov. 26:India vs Belgium.Nov. 27:India vs South Africa.Nov. 29:India vs Poland.Dec. 1:Quarterfinals.Dec. 2:Play-offs (5/8).Dec. 3:Semifinals.Dec. 4:Play-offs (3/4, 5/6, 7/8) and Final.