New Delhi, Jun 8: Forwards Rupinder Pal Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki are all set to be axed from the 16-member senior hockey squad that will take part in the London Olympics.
The squad is set to be formally announced on Friday but the selection committee has already decided on 16-member squad that will be competing at the quadrennial extravaganza.
While Rupinder and Walmiki are all set to get the boot, veteran defender Ignace Tirkey and striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi are in all likelihood going to come. The 14 others will be those who have recently played in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament.
"Walmiki and Rupinder Pal's performance haven't been upto the mark and we can't take risk with these players in a big event like Olympics. Ignace's experience will come in handy while Gurwinder will add muscle to the forward line," a selector said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, apart from the 16-members, the Hockey India will be sending an additional six members from the junior squad for a training camp at Lille in France.
On Thursday, HI secretary general Narinder Batra also announced that the association has already signed 30 players for the cash-rich Hockey India League (HIL) scheduled to be held in January 2013.
