Bhubaneswar: Two players from Odisha have been selected in the 18-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team who will represent the host nation at the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup-2018 scheduled to begin on November 28 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium here.
The two players are defenders Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas. Lakra who makes a comeback into the team after missing out the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat last month due to rehabilitation. The team will be led by Manpreet Singh while the vice-captain is Chinglensana Singh Kangujam. The Indian team, scheduled to begin their campaign against South Africa on the opening day, features PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak as goalkeepers.
“We have chosen the best available combinations for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018. We had to make some tough decisions to select 18 out of a very strong pool of 34 players. The final 18 are a mix of experienced and youth and have been selected on the basis of their current form and fitness. These players have consistently shown their potential in the lead up to the showpiece event and I am confident India will put up a fighting performance,” asserted Chief Coach Harendra Singh.
