New Delhi: With an aim to gain experience and prepare for the Junior World Cup in Lucknow later this year, an 18-member Indian squad led by defender Dipsan Tirkey is all set to take part in next month’s EurAsia Cup in Russia and a six-match tour of England.
The EurAsia Cup will be played between the Junior Men’s squad, Dinamo Stroitel, the Russian Team 1 and Russian team 2. Dinamo Stroitel made their appearance in the European Hockey League in the 2015-16 season after a gap of 34 years.
The same team will then travel to England to take on the England and Scotland teams in six matches from July 22 to August 1.
Besides captain Tirkey, the Indian junior team includes talents like Santa Singh, Parvinder Singh and drag flicker Varun Kumar.
Speaking at the announcement, Md. Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India said, “As hosts of the Junior World Cup, we want to give our junior men’s team the best platform and preparation to bring glory to the country.
Keeping that in mind, we have started the process early, and are initiating the boys into international hockey on these two back to back tours. I have full confidence they will come back enriched and make us proud of their performances.”
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Kishan B Pathak.
Defenders: Dipsan Tirkey (C), Varun Kumar (VC), Hardik Singh, Vikramjit Singh, Gurinder Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess.
Midfielders: Nilkanta Sharma, Sumit, Santa Singh, Manpreet, Shamsher Singh.
Forwards: Gurjant Singh, Ajay Yadav, Parvinder Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Ajit Kumar Pandey.
PTI
