India’s ace forward SV Sunil and midfielder Manpreet Singh have been ruled out of the Asian Champions Trophy to begin on October 20 in Kuantan, Malaysia, due to injury. While the 27-year-old Sunil still carries the wrist injury from Rio Olympics during India’s encounter against Canada, Manpreet has picked up a groin injury.
“Manpreet’s is a repeated groin injury. Though it is manageable at this stage, it should not become chronic hence we decided to keep him back here for rehabilitation. Sunil and Raghunath (who is recovering from an elbow injury) will also be in SAI while the team is away in Malaysia,” stated Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans, who returned from the Australian Hockey League early this week where he had accompanied the Indian Junior Men’s Team.
Sunil will now be replaced by Ramandeep Singh while Akashdeep Singh will step into the shoes of a midfielder in place of the 24-year-old Manpreet Singh, who was also PR Sreejesh’s deputy for this tournament.
Experienced defender and dragflick expert Rupinder Pal Singh will step in as Vice Captain for the tournament. “We have several options and I don’t see this as a setback for us at all. We will most probably play Pardeep Mor and Akashdeep on the midfield for this tournament,” Oltmans stated.
Squad
Goalkeepers1. P.R Sreejesh (Captain)2. Akash ChikteDefenders3. Rupinder Pal Singh (Vice Captain)4. Pardeep Mor5. Jasjit Singh Kular6. Birendra Lakra7. Kothajit Singh8. Surender KumarMidfielders 9. Chinglensana Singh Kangujam10. Akashdeep Singh 11. Sardar Singh12. S.K Uthappa13. Devindar WalmikiForwards14. Talwinder Singh15. Ramandeep Singh16. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay17. Nikkin Thimmaiah18. Affan Yousuf
