Hockey India, the apex body for hockey in India, recently announced a probable’s list for the Indian junior and senior teams to take part in a month-long camp. The camp in Bengaluru will be held in order to select the team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Junior Hockey World Cup which are scheduled for later this year.
The 4th Coal India Hockey India League has seen the emergence of many new prospects for Indian hockey, both at the junior and senior level who have also been included in the camp. Out of the 12 Indians playing for the Alphas, a whopping 8 players were selected for the upcoming camp.
Here's how they will impact the Indian team:
SENIOR TEAM
1. Danish Mujtaba
The 27-year old midfielder is not new to the Indian set-up as he has already played 142 times for his nation. The charismatic midfielder will provide the much-needed link between the defence line and the forward line with his amazing understanding of the game.
2. Affan Yousuf
The 21-year-old youngster was the spark for the Alphas on the left flank in the HIL, always looking to take on defenders and providing a potent goal threat. With him in the national set-up, the Indian camp is sure to be a jolly one as he lifts the morale of every team he plays for.
3. Nikkin Thimmaiah
The 25-year-old forward missed the HIL due to an unfortunate injury, but he is back fit and raring to go. A natural leader, Nikkin is known to stitch a group together with his leadership skills and the Indian team is a much better unit with the Alphas forward in their ranks.
JUNIOR TEAM
1. Nilakanta Sharma
His ability to conjure up goals at pivotal stages in the game will be a blessing for the Indian team. He showed this quality of his by scoring the winner in 2 of Mumbai's 4 wins in the recently-concluded HIL.
2. Gurjant Singh
The 21-year-old forward played all the matches for the Alphas and did no harm to his reputation by giving assists on a regular basis. His quality of being at the right place at the right time helps the forward in scoring some important goals for his team.
3. Krishan B Pathak
The 18-year-old custodian was hailed as the future Indian goalkeeper by the Alphas’ head coach Jay Stacy. His ability to judge the opposition attack easily adds to his quality of being a brilliant shot stopper and the experience he got by playing alongside David Harte, the 2015 FIH Goalkeeper of the Year, will hold him in good stead.
4. Manpreet
The 19-year-old midfielder displayed his fine hockey skills with the Mumbai outfit in HIL. He was a thorn in the Delhi Waveriders side and scored 2 field goals in the Alphas' 8-3 win over the Waveriders.
5. Harmanpreet Singh
The 20-year-old defender has been a regular starter for the Junior national team and will look to continue his fine form from the HIL into the national set up. Harmanpreet possesses a calm head on his shoulders and his ability to score from penalty corners will be a potent weapon for the Indian side.
The camps are scheduled to be organized from 7th March 2016 – 8th April 2016 for the senior team and 7th March 2016 – 2nd April 2016 for the junior team at the SAI Centre, Bengaluru.
