Sardar Singh likely to miss 3rd Asian Champions Trophy

FILE PHOTO: Sardar Singh, one of the best midfielders in the world, may be rested for Asian Champions Trophy

Indian senior men’s hockey team captain Sardar Singh is likely to give the upcoming 3rd Asian Champions Trophy a miss.

Sources close to Hockey India say that the mercurial mid-fielder – touted as one of the world’s best centre-halfs around – is unlikely to be picked in the senior team for the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy beginning in the Japanese city of Kakamigahara from November 2.

Sardar, who has been playing club hockey for top-notch Dutch club hockey club HC Bloemendaal, after steering the national team to a semifinal finish in the 9th Asia Cup in Ipoh, could be rested along with other senior players as the national hockey selectors are keen to have more than a fair sprinkling of junior players in the senior teams so that the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy form a significant part of their preparations for the 2013 Junior World Cup slated to be in New Delhi from December 6-15.

The Haryana Police DSP, who has played more than 150 internationals, is expected to continue his club stint in the Netherlands.

It is pertinent to mention that the seasoned play-maker is not part of the national camp the senior team is attending in New Delhi for the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy.

There are silent whispers that Manpreet Singh could be asked to wear the captain’s armband for the Kakamigahara event – the youngster led admirably in the 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup and shepherded the Indian junior team to a glory in Ipoh.

It is learnt that Manpreet is heavily tipped to lead the national team in the 2013 Junior World Cup in our own backyard and given this scenario, it is quite likely that he will have most of the junior players if not all from the Sultan of Johor Cup-bound team for the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy.

It could not be ascertained as to whether the senior team would comprise the full junior team or a large chunk of it. The clearer picture will emerge when the national selectors announce the team over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Terry Walsh has arrived in India and taken charge of the team at the national camp in New Delhi. Roelant Oltmans is also overseeing the preparations at the camp.

The team will depart for Kakamigahara on October 29 and will play their first game against China on November.