Bengaluru: The Indian men’s hockey team commenced its national coaching camp on Monday at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru, with a focus on evaluating recent performances and preparing for upcoming international challenges. The camp, running from March 17 to March 28, features 36 players who will train under the supervision of head coach Craig Fulton and support staff.
Following the Hockey India Annual Awards, players reported to the camp to gear up for the next leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25, to be held in Europe. Speaking on the occasion, Coach Fulton highlighted the importance of the camp in terms of recovery, adaptation, and analysis.
“It has been a very demanding season for the players, with intense matches in quick succession. During this camp, we will focus on analysing recent performances, while also addressing fitness and adaptation needs,” said Fulton. “Our immediate goal is to prepare for the next round of Pro League matches in Europe, and I’m particularly eager to see how some of the new talents live up to expectations.”
Striker Mandeep Singh has been granted leave from the camp due to his upcoming wedding.
In the current FIH Pro League standings, India is placed third with 15 points from eight matches played at home. The team delivered an impressive run, winning five out of eight matches. England and Belgium lead the table with 16 points each, occupying the first and second spots respectively.
Players Attending the Camp:
Goalkeepers:
Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Pawan, Suraj Karkera, Mohit Honnenhalli Shashikumar.
Defenders:
Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, Amandeep Lakra, Neelam Sanjeep Xess, Varun Kumar, Yashdeep Siwach.
Midfielders:
Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Neelkanth Sharma, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Mohammad Raheel Moushin, Vishnukant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Poovanna CB.
Forwards:
Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalge, Bobby Singh Dhami, Sudeep Chirmako, Selvam Karthi, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Uttam Singh.
The Indian team will aim to build on their momentum and climb the Pro League rankings as they head into a critical phase of international hockey.
