New Delhi: Team India will play a two match Test Series against France and a 3 Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament at Santander, Spain from 28- 30 June 2012 and 14-18 July 2012 respectively. The series will be played as a preparation for the upcoming London Olympics.

Selection trials were conducted at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on 6 and 7 June 2012 witnessed by Hockey India selectors B. P Govinda and Col.Balbir Singh, alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh.

The 22 member squad will be Captained by Bharat Chetri while Sardar Singh will be Vice-Captain of the team.

India will play two test matches against France in Lille on 28 and 30 June 2012.

The team will then travel to Spain to take part in a 3 Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament at Santander, Spain from 14-18 July 2012. Before the start of 3 Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament, Team India will play two test matches each against Spain and South Africa from 5- 11 July 2012 at the same venue. 

The 3 Nation Tournament will feature Great Britain, India and the hosts Spain. These matches are the final preparations for the Team India ahead of the London Olympic Games 2012. The tournament will be played on the blue artificial turf with yellow kookaburra balls.

During the three week tour in France and Spain, Team India will play total of 8 matches before shifting to Olympic Village in London. These matches will help Team India to acclimatize to the European conditions which will be similar to the conditions of London in July and August when they will take part in the London Olympic Games 2012

The team is as under-

Goalkeepers
1.     Bharat Chetri (Captain)
2.     P R Sreejesh

Defenders
3.     V R Raghunath
4.     Ignace Tirkey
5.     Sandeep Singh
6.     Rupinder Pal Singh

Midfielders
7.      Sardar Singh (Vice Captain)
8.      Kothajit Singh
9.      Gurbaj Singh
10.  Birendra Lakra
11.  Manpreet Singh

Forwards
12.  SV Sunil
13.  Gurwinder Singh Chandi
14.  Sarvanjit Singh
15.  Shivendra Singh
16.  Danish Mujtaba
17.  Tushar Khandker
18.  Dharamvir Singh
19.  Chinglensana Singh
20.  S K Uthappa
21.  Nithin Thimmaiah
22. Pradhan Somanna




Indian Sports News Network