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| Raghunath among four penalty corners selected |
Indian senior men team will leave for New Zealand tomorrow
to take part in 6 match test series to prepare for Hockey World League finals
and Rio Olympics to be played next year. The team will be led by midfielder
Sardar Singh while goalkeeper P R Sreejesh is named as vice captain for the
tour. Midfielder Manpreet Singh and Dharamvir Singh who missed India's European
tour due to injury have returned to the side.
Danish Mujtaba, Talwinder Singh and Mohd Amir Khan who
played in European tour have been left out of the squad. Nikkin Thimmiah has
been roped in to replace Mohd Amir Khan in the squad. India will play two test
match against New Zealand A team while will face New Zealand senior team in 4
match series.
Return of Dharamvir Singh will give Indian midfield some
respite in the absence of Gurbaj Singh who has been handed nine month ban due
to his behavioural issues. Dharamvir Singh used to combine well with SV Sunil
and Gurbaj Singh and his return to the squad will add some zing to the right
flank.
Indian team management is trying to find out its best
combination before the Olympics and so have gone with 4 penalty corner experts
in the side. Raghunath, Rupinder, Gurjinder and Jasjit Kular are the four
penalty corners India has gone on with. Penalty corners have been a cause of
concern for Indian team as their conversion rate has fallen drastically since
the axing of Sandeep Singh after London Olympics.
India will play four Test matches against the Black
Sticks on October 6, 7 (both in Nelson), 9 and 11 (both in Christchurch). They
will also play two practice games on October 2 and 3 against New Zealand A in
Auckland.
Following is the Indian team for New Zealand tour:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (vice-captain), Harjot
Singh.
Defenders: Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, VR
Raghunath, Jasjit Singh Kular, Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurjinder Singh.
Midfielders: Sardar Singh (captain), Chinglensana
Singh, SK Uthappa, Satbir Singh, Devinder Walmiki, Manpreet Singh, Dharamvir
Singh.
Forwards: SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep
Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Nikkin Thimmaiah.
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