Manpreet Singh returns as captain, India name 18-member hockey squad for CWG 2022

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Manpreet Singh is set to take over the captaincy mantle from Amit Rohidas and will lead the India men's hockey team in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 

Rohidas led India in the last leg of the FIH Pro League where India lost 1-2 to the Netherlands who eventually won the title. Harmanpreet Singh, who was the deputy at the FIH Pro League will continue to remain as the vice-captain of the Indian team. 

The Commonwealth Games will begin from July 29 and India have found themselves in Group B along with England, Canada, Wales and Ghana. The Manpreet Singh-led side will begin their campaign against Ghana on July 31. 

"We have gone with a tried-and-tested team for the Commonwealth Games. These players have the experience of playing top teams in high pressure games in the FIH Pro League which was a good exposure for us ahead of the prestigious quadrennial event," said chief coach Graham Reid.

"After a brief break when we return home from the Netherlands, we will resume camp in SAI, Bengaluru where we will analyze our performance against Belgium and Netherlands. While there are many takeaways from this outing in FIH Pro League, there surely are a few areas that we can improve upon ahead of the Commonwealth Games," Reid added.

Manpreet's return as captain of the 18-member side for the quadrennial games could see India recreate the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games magic, where they won bronze after a gap of more than four decades. 

Add to it the fact that drag-flick specialist and vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh is the highest goal scorer of the FIH Pro League, India can look forward to a sterling performance in Birmingham.

The squad includes the experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Krishan B Pathak, who returns to the team after a brief injury break. Defenders Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh have been named in the team.

The midfield includes the experience of Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Nilakanta Sharma, while experienced strikers Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh and Abhishek will lead the charge in attack.

In their previous outing at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, India suffered disappointment finishing fourth. However, after an impressive outing in the FIH Pro League this year, the Indian team is poised to achieve success in Birmingham.

(Inputs IANS)