Hockey India name 33 probables for the 2016 Rio Olympics
Hockey India has officially come up with the list of 33 probables for the 2016 Rio Olympics and these players have been selected for the national camp, which will be held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) South Centre, Bengaluru, as preparation for the all-important Olympic Games.
The recently concluded Hockey India League(HIL) saw some new talent emerge in the sport for India. Some of the players from the League were included in the probables list, considering their decent run. The national camp is set to be a month-long affair, from March 7 to April 8.
The team had a roller coaster ride in 2015, with a few decent performances. But the biggest highlight of the year was India's bronze-medal winning effort in the Hockey World League finals, towards the end of the year. The Indians had displayed tremendous grit to overcome a brave effort from the Netherlands to clinch the bronze medal.
The month-long national camp in Bengaluru is expected to be a key aspect in the run-up to the Olympic Games, and the training would also narrow down the list of possible playing side for the mega event. The big name to miss out in the probables list was midfielder Gurbaj Singh, who last played for India at the South Asian Games last month.
The 33 probables for Rio 2016:
Goalkeepers: P.R. Sreejesh, Harjot Singh, Akash Chikte.
Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Pardeep Mor, Jasjit Singh Kular, Birender Lakra, V.R. Raghunath, Kothajit Singh, Sumit, Surender Kumar, Gurjinder Singh, Amit Gowda.
Midfielders: Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, Satbir Singh, Dharamvir Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Devinder Walmiki, Nithin Thimmaiah.
Forwards: Affan Yousuf, Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, S.V. Sunil, Lalit Upadhyay, Mohd. Amir Khan, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Malak Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki.