Sardar Singh to lead India in 2014 CWG, Sreejesh to be his deputy

New Delhi, 3 July 2014: Sardar Singh will lead India in the 2014 Commonwealth Games while PR Sreejesh will be his deputy in the mega event which is to be held at Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to 3.

The team of 16 players for the Commonwealth Games was selected by Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Harbinder Singh, Dr. R P Singh and Arjun Halappa alongwith Director High Performance Roelant Oltmans and Chief Coach Terry Walsh on the basis of their performance during the selection trials conducted at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on 30 June and 1 July 2014.

India will play their first match of the Commonwealth Games against Wales on 25 July followed by a head- on with Scotland on 26 July 2014, Australia on 29 July 2014 and South Africa on 31 July 2014. In the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Indian Men Hockey Team had won the Silver medal and is eager to continue the success this time around.

The preparatory camp of the Indian team is currently underway at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi until the departure of the team on 12 July 2014 for Scotland to participate in the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking on the team, Chief Coach, Terry Walsh said, “The team is in good shape and ready to take on the challenges in the Commonwealth Games 2014. The entire team is showing strong signs of improvement and is dedicated towards overcoming the areas where they are lacking.”

Speaking on preparations of the team for Commonwealth Games, Captain Sardar Singh said, “The whole team is positive about the Commonwealth Games and motivated to perform well in all the matches. We are working on the loop holes by analyzing the mistakes made in the matches during the World Cup through video sessions. The efforts have been amplified in order to give our best in the Commonwealth Games.”

List of Selected Players-

Goalkeepers: P R Sreejesh (100 Caps) Vice-Captain

Defenders: Gurbaj Singh (164 Caps), Birendra Lakra (71 Caps), Rupinder Pal Singh (89 Caps), Kothajit Singh (71 Caps), V R Raghunath (160 Caps)

Midfielders: Dharamvir Singh (75 Caps), Sardar Singh (186 Caps) Captain, Danish Mujtaba (111 Caps), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (52 Caps), Manpreet Singh (97 Caps)

Forwards: Ramandeep Singh (11 Caps), Akashdeep Singh (41 Caps), S V Sunil (137 Caps), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (97 Caps), Nikkin Thimmaiah (11 Caps)