New Delhi: The Indian men’s hockey team has announced their squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics with 5 debutants included in the list. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Singh, with Hardik Singh named as the vice-captain.
Amit Rohidas is the only Odia player included in the team. Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek, and Sukhjeet Singh are the five players who are set to make their Olympic debut in Paris.
Drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet will find support from midfielder Hardik Singh in leadership duties. Harmanpreet is set to play in his third Olympics, having debuted as the youngest member of the Indian squad at the 2016 Rio Olympics and subsequently contributing to the bronze medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The squad also features veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and midfielder Manpreet Singh, both of whom will be making their fourth Olympic appearance.
The defensive line includes Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, and Sanjay, while the midfield will see the contributions of Raj Kumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad. The forward line boasts formidable players such as Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, and Gurjant Singh.
Additionally, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, midfielder Nilakanta Sharma, and defender Jugraj Singh have been named as alternate athletes.
Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek, and Sukhjeet Singh are the five players who are set to make their Olympic debut in Paris.
India is placed in Pool B at the Paris Olympics alongside defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. To advance to the quarterfinals, the team must secure a top-four finish in their pool.
Pool A comprises of Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and South Africa, and hosts France, setting the stage for a highly competitive 12-team men’s hockey tournament.
The Indian team will start their campaign on 27 July against New Zealand, followed by a match against Argentina on 29 July. They will then face Ireland and Belgium on 30 July and 1 August respectively, with their final group stage game against Australia on 2 August.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team for Paris 2024 Olympics:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh
Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay
Midfielders: Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh
Alternates: Nilakanta Sharma, Jugraj Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak (goalkeeper).