Hockey team picked, list may be out on Saturday

PUNE: As the Indian hockey team enters its final leg of preparations for the London Olympics, a striking fact about this bunch is that that except for Sandeep Singh and Ignace Tirkey, the rest of the squad would be making their debut at the quadrennial games.

Hockey India has kept the squad — of probably 22 members — for the upcoming tour of Europe under wraps. The national selectors who met during the trials have finalised the list, but HI secretary Narinder Batra said the names would be revealed only after the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Authority of India’s formal approved. The squad will be pruned to the final 16 (plus two stand-bys) after the European leg.

Chief coach Michael Nobbs said he was satisfied with the selection of the team.