Hockey India reveals squad for 2022 Commonwealth Games

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jun 20, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Manpreet Singh, who led India to a historic bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year, will head the team in the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Digital Desk: The 18-member Indian Men's Hockey team for the Commonwealth Games 2022 was announced by Hockey India on Monday (June 20). The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are set to begin on July 29. India is in Pool B, along with England, Canada, Wales, and Ghana. They will play against Ghana on July 31. 

Manpreet Singh, who led India to a historic bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year, will head the team in the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Harmanpreet Singh, the team's leading scorer in the FIH Hockey Pro League, has been named Vice-Captain.

PR Sreejesh, the experienced goalkeeper, and Krishan B Pathak, who returns from injury, are included in the squad. The team consists of Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, and Jarmanpreet Singh as defenders. In the midfield, there is a diverse combination of experience with Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, and Nilakanta Sharma. The attack will be led by experienced strikers Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh and Abhishek.

India's previous participation at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast ended in disappointment with a fourth-place position; however, following an outstanding performance in the FIH Pro League this year, the Indian squad is ready to succeed in Birmingham. 

"We have gone with a tried-and-tested team for the Commonwealth Games. These players have played top teams in high-pressure games in the FIH Pro League, providing us with valuable experience ahead of the famous quadrennial event," Chief Coach Graham Reid said.

"We will restart camp in SAI, Bengaluru, after a small break after we come home from the Netherlands, where we will analyze our performance against Belgium and the Netherlands.  While there are many things to take away from our FIH Pro League performance, there are a few areas we can improve ahead of the Commonwealth Games," said Reid.  

Indian Men's Team for the Commonwealth Games:

Goalkeepers

• Sreejesh P.R.
• Krishan Bahadur Pathak

Defenders 

• Varun Kumar
• Surender Kumar
• Harmanpreet Singh (VC)
• Amit Rohidas
•  Jugraj Singh
• Jarmanpreet Singh

Midfielders

• Manpreet Singh (C)
• Hardik Singh
• Vivek Sagar Prasad
• Shamsher Singh
• Akashdeep Singh
• Nilakanta Sharma

Forwards 

• Mandeep Singh
• Gurjant Singh
• Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
• Abhishek