SANDEEP Singh has been named India captain in the Asia Cup hockey
tournament in Kuantan on May 9-16.
India will attempt to lift the Asia Cup title for the third time after
having won it in 2003 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2007 (Chennai).
Sandeep, a penalty corner specialist, is the most influential player in
the India team. He scored seven goals in India's triumph in the recent
Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh. India defeated an experimental Malaysian team 3-1
in the final.
However, there were four changes to the side that won the Azlan Shah
tournament. Ignace Tirkey, Sarwanjit Singh, Bharat Chhikara and Shivendra
Singh have been replaced by V. Raghunath, Vikram Pillay, Rajpal Singh and
Hari Prasad for the Asia Cup. Shivendra, recovering from a shoulder
injury, has been put on the stand-by list.
India are in Group B together with Pakistan and China. Malaysia, who
are in Group A with South Korea, Japan and Bangladesh, are expected to
face India in the May 14 semi-finals.
The winners of the Asia Cup will get an automatic entry to the 2010
World Cup in New Delhi.
SQUAD - Goalkeepers: Baljit Singh, Adrian D'Souza
Defenders: Sandeep Singh (captain), Dilip Tirkey, V.Raghunath
Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Ajitesh Roy, Vikram Pillay,
Prabodh Tirkey, V.S.Vinaya
Forwards: Tushar Khandker, Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh, S.V.Sunil,
Arjun Halappa, Hari Prasad, Gurvinder Singh Chandi.
Standbyes: P.R.Sreejesh, Sarwanjit Singh, Bharat Chhikara, Shivendra
Singh
POOL A - South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Bangladesh
POOL B - India, Pakistan, China.
