Olympic bronze medalists Varun Kumar and Sanjay have been included in the Indian 'A' men's hockey team for the China tour. Both players will lead the 20-member India 'A' team during the tour, which begins on October 12.
Sports News: A blend of young and experienced Indian hockey players will lead the India 'A' team on their tour of China. Hockey India has announced the 20-member India 'A' men's hockey team for the tour, which is set to commence on October 12. The team will be captained by Paris Olympics bronze medalist Sanjay. Another prominent name in the squad is Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Varun Kumar.
Key Players in the Squad
The team selected for this tour includes experienced players as well as new, emerging stars. The main attractions of the team are:
- Sanjay: Team captain, defender, and drag-flick specialist. A Paris Olympics bronze medalist, Sanjay is known for his leadership and experience.
- Varun Kumar: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, defender, and drag-flicker. Varun has been selected to strengthen the team's experience and strategy.
The team comprises a total of 20 players, including young talents who will get the opportunity to gain international match experience.
Tour Outline and Matches
The team's matches will be held in Changzhou city, Jiangsu province, China. India 'A' will compete against Gansu Club. This tour is part of Hockey India's strategy to provide experience to its developing team. Head Coach Craig Fulton commented on the tour:
'This tour is part of our plan to give the India 'A' team players international match experience before the busy 2026 hockey calendar and to expand the talent pool for the senior team. Our team has been practicing for the past few weeks and has gelled well. We are expecting an excellent performance in the China tour.'
The young players included in the India 'A' team are hoping to learn a great deal from this tour. The presence of experienced players like Sanjay and Varun will enable the younger players to assimilate strategies, playing under pressure, and international experience.
India 'A' Men's Hockey Team Squad
Goalkeepers: Pawan, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar
Defenders: Poovanna Chandura Bobby, Varun Kumar, Amandeep Lakra, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Sukhwinder, Pramod
Midfielders: Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Mohammed Raheel Moussen, Rajkumar Pal, Maninder Singh, Venkatesh Dhanajay Kenche
Forwards: Angad Veer Singh, Bobby Singh Dhami, Uttam Singh, S. Karthi, Aditya Arjun Lalage.
