Shivendra Singh

Former captain Rajpal Singh and veteran midfielder Ignace Tirkey were the notable omissions from an 18-member Indian squad announced for the FIH men’s Champions Challenge I from November 26 to December 4 in Johannesburg (Schedule). India has been drawn in Pool A of the championship along with Belgium, Poland and host South Africa

Ignace, vice-captain of the team for recently concluded Australia tour, has been replaced by forward Tushar Khandekar as vice-captain for the Champions Challenge I, and the team will be led by goalkeeper Bharat Kumar Chetri who has 116 international caps. Bharat Chikara, Ravipal and Gurvinder Singh Chandi are other notable omissions from the squad.

While the return of striker Shivendra Singh to the team is good news for the fans and team. He was on the sidelines for a few months with a freak collarbone injury that he suffered during Bhopal Nationals conducted by Hockey India in Bhopal in June 2011. Birendra Lakra and Chinglensana Singh Kangujam are the new faces in the team.

The team:
Bharat Kumar Chetri (GK) (Captain)
Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran (GK)
Manjeet Kullu
Rupinder Pal Singh
VR Raghunath
Sandeep Singh
Gurbaj Singh
Sardar Singh
Arjun Halappa
Manpreet Singh
Birendra Lakra
Sarvanjit Singh
Yuvraj Walmiki
SV Sunil
Danish Mujtaba
Tushar Khandekar (Vice Captain)
Chinglensana Singh Kangujam
Shivendra Singh

Officials:
Pratap Satpathy, Manager
Michael Jack Nobbs, Chief Coach
Mohd. Riaz, Coach
BJ Kariappa, Coach
David Ian John, Exercise Physiotherapist
Clarence Lobo, Coach / Video Analyst
Umesh Thuraganur Nanju, Doctor
Shrikant Iyengar, Physiotherapist
Ramkishan Barafsingh Bansiwal, Masseur

Detailed schedule here

Related posts:

Halappa, Chhikara and Khandekar back in the Team, Chetri named Captain Asian Champions Trophy: Rajpal and Saba to lead men’s and women’s team FIH Champions Challenge I – 2011 (Women’s): Saba Anjum to Lead India