Indian team announced for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament beginning in Malaysia on the 3rd of March; Sardar Singh returns to the side to take on the<\/p>\n
mantle of skipper and lead the team to glory.<\/p>\n
Veteran Sardar Singh has got one more chance to prolong his international career after he was on Tuesday named captain of the Indian men’s hockey team for<\/p>\n
the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, a tournament where three players will make their debut for the country.<\/p>\n
Sardar, who is in the twilight of his career, has been in and out of the team in recent times and was ignored from India’s last two international assignments.<\/p>\n
Sardar last played for India at the Asia Cup but was dropped from the squad for the Hockey World League (HWL) Final last December and then for the tour to<\/p>\n
New Zealand.<\/p>\n
But new chief coach Sjoerd Marijne handed another lifeline to the midfield ace when he was appointed to lead India at next month’s Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh,<\/p>\n
Malaysia after regular skipper Manpreet Singh was rested.<\/p>\n
Sardar wants to continue till 2020 Olympics but with three big events — Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Cup — lined up this year, the Azlan<\/p>\n
Shah Cup probably is his last chance to impress upon the national selectors with the team think-tank setting their sights on a younger lot.<\/p>\n
Coach Marijne too hinted that it is a big opportunity for Sardar to impress the team management and stay in the reckoning for future tournaments.<\/p>\n
Sardar is one of the leaders in the core group and in Manpreet Singh s absence, he has been chosen for the job. He is an experienced player and having<\/p>\n
missed two tournaments previously, this is an opportunity for him to show his skills,” he said.<\/p>\n
While Sardar will lead, striker Ramandeep Singh has been named vice-captain of the side.<\/p>\n
The tournament will also witness three rookie players in in Mandeep Mor, Sumit Kumar (Jr) and Shilanand Lakra, who are set to make their debut. While Sumit<\/p>\n
Kumar (Jr) is part of the ongoing senior men’s national camp, Mandeep Mor and Shilanand Lakra have been called-up from the junior men’s core group. The two<\/p>\n
were also part of the India colts team that won bronze medal at the Sultan of Johor Cup last year.<\/p>\n
By introducing new players to the senior fold, Marijne is looking at long-term gains for the team that includes the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
Just like the New Zealand tour where four players made their international debut, the Azlan Shah Cup is a great opportunity for these new players to get<\/p>\n
international exposure against top teams, said Marijne.<\/p>\n
It will only help us create a bigger group. Playing top teams in their first tournament will be challenging but this is also an opportunity for the seniors to help the<\/p>\n
youngsters adjust to this level, added the 43-year-old Dutchman.<\/p>\n
Sardar will be in charge of the midfield along side SK Uthappa, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma and Simranjeet Singh.<\/p>\n
The defence will be guarded by Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Dipsan Tirkey, Surender Kumar and new comers Mandeep Mor and Nilam Sanjeep Xess while<\/p>\n
Suraj Karkera and Krishan Pathak are the two goalkeepers.<\/p>\n
The forward line will feature Gurjant Singh, Ramandeep, Talwinder Singh and debutants Sumit Kumar (Jr) and Shilanand Lakra.<\/p>\n
This tournament is extremely important for the players who are going because it is another opportunity for them to experience high level competition especially<\/p>\n
from teams like Australia and Argentina,” Marijne said.<\/p>\n
“This is a chance for them to show their capability in the international level and ensure their place in the squad for future tournaments.<\/p>\n
The Azlan Shah Cup is a prestigious invitational tournament that will be played from March 3 to 11 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh.<\/p>\n
Besides hosts Malaysia and India, the tournament will also feature world no. 1 Australia, world no.2 Argentina, England and Ireland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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