Hockey India Names 54-Member Core Probable Group For Senior Men's National Coaching Camp
Hockey India has announced a 54-member core probable squad for the upcoming senior men's national coaching camp, beginning on April 25, 2025, at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. Following their performances at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, held in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Hockey India has selected a core group of 54 players for the upcoming national camp. The camp will be held from April 25-30, 2025, during which the group will be assessed and subsequently pruned down to 40 players.
The selected 40 players will then continue training in the next phase of the camp, scheduled from 1 to 25 May 2025.
Out of the 54 players, 38 have been retained from the existing core group. The rest have been drafted based on their impressive outings in the recent nationals, with players coming in from Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Punjab, UP Hockey, Hockey Bengal, and Manipur Hockey, as per a press release from Hockey India.
The players retained from the existing core group includes, Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Pawan, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar, Amit Rohidas, Varun Kumar, Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Amandeep Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Sumit, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Poovanna Chandura Boby, Rajinder Singh, Vishnu Kant Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh, Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Boby Singh Dhami, Selvam Karthi, Sunil Jojo, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Sudeep Chirmako, and Angad Bir Singh.
The newcomers called up for the camp include, Sanjay B, Ankit Malik, Pratap Lakra, Parmod, Dhanavade Mayur, Ali Ahmad, Aakib Rahim, Arjun Sharma, Yousuf Affan, Laishram Dipu Singh, Venkatesh Kenche, Gursahibjit Singh, Pardeep Singh, Ravi, Uttam Singh, and Maninder Singh.
This 54-member squad will undergo a week-long camp from April 25-30, after which it will be trimmed down to a 40-player group for the next phase of the camp, scheduled from May 1 to May 25.
Talking about the focus of the upcoming camp, Indian Men's Hockey Team Head Coach Craig Fulton said, "The main aim of this camp is to get everyone back on the field, back in the gym, and moving again. We have had a short break since the nationals, so it is about getting back to the basics. We have a mix of senior players, reserves, and some exciting new faces. This camp is a chance to trial the new players while also assessing where our senior and reserve players stand. We'll gradually build up to playing internal matches in a few days."
"Fitness will be a key focus, especially with the final leg of the Pro League coming up in June. This camp is going to be intense--not just physically but across all areas of the game. We're looking at fitness, gameplay, and sharpening overall preparedness," he added.
Speaking on the role of junior and new players in this camp, Fulton said, "There is definitely a focus on identifying and developing younger talent. This camp gives us a closer look at some promising junior and new players. At the same time, we are also focusing on reinforcing structure and consistency among our senior group. It is about blending experience with potential and preparing everyone for the road ahead."
Notably, the Indian team will also play friendly games in Ireland ahead of the Pro League. "We would not be playing any official tournament before the Pro League, but we are planning a training camp in Ireland. The team will play three friendly matches there. It is going to be an important build-up and a good opportunity to get match-ready in a competitive setting," Fulton said.
Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
Hockey India extends wishes to Hardik Singh for completing 150 international caps
Amsterdam [Netherlands], June 7 (ANI): Indian men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh reached a significant personal milestone on Saturday, earning his 150th international cap during India's opening match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 against the Netherlands. The 26-year-old midfielder from Jalandhar, Punjab, has been a pillar of consistency and dynamism in India's midfield since his debut at the 2018 Hero Asian Champions Trophy, where India and Pakistan were declared joint winners. Since then, Hardik has become one of the most dependable figures in Indian hockey, representing the nation in nearly every major international tournament. A key architect of India's recent resurgence on the world stage, Hardik played a crucial role in securing the historic Bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, as well as the Silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He was also part of India's gold-medal winning campaigns at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the 2023 Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, and the 2018 edition in Muscat, Oman. Hardik's stellar performances have earned him widespread recognition, including the Arjuna Award in 2021, the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (2022 & 2023), and the Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year (2024). Speaking on the milestone, Hardik Singh said, as quoted from Hockey India press release, 'It's an emotional moment for me. I've always worn the India jersey with immense pride, and reaching 150 caps feels surreal. This journey has been full of learning, resilience, and unforgettable moments. I'm grateful to my coaches, teammates, and family who have been my biggest support system. I look forward to continuing to give my best for the country.' Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey congratulated Hardik and stated, 'Hardik has grown into one of the most reliable and intelligent midfielders in world hockey. His ability to control the tempo of the game and step up under pressure is what sets him apart. On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate him on this well-deserved milestone and look forward to many more standout performances from him.' Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh added, 'Reaching 150 international matches at the age of 26 is a testament to Hardik's commitment, discipline, and fitness. He continues to be a great ambassador for Indian hockey and a role model for young players across the country. We are proud of his achievements and his contribution to Indian hockey's success story.' (ANI)
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Hockey, FIH Pro League: Harmanpreet's men push World No 1 Netherlands, a 1-2 defeat will sting
In the final analysis, a close 1-2 defeat against a near full-strength world No 1 side in their own backyard is not the worst result. But the Indian men's hockey team will walk away from their FIH Pro League match against Netherlands at the Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen with a feeling of 'what if'. What if they played the entire match as well as they did in the first half? What if they had a little more attacking ambition in the second? And what if Harmanpreet Singh – who otherwise had a brilliant match – had not made a mistake in possession? Despite playing three quarters of the 60 minutes rather well, India had nothing to show for it on the Pro League points table – one where they hope to be high enough at the end of this daunting European leg, to earn World Cup qualification early. Harmanpreet's rocket of a drag flick gave India the lead in the 19th minute and they were the much better side till then. But the captain's defensive error and Thijs van Dam's superb finish in the 25th minute brought the Dutch back into the game at halftime. And the hosts' relentless late pressure eventually led to the winner in the 58th minute, with van Dam's remarkable reverse-hit finish breaking India's resolve. 'First match after so long, we did a great job for the first three quarters,' Harmanpreet said after the match. 'But you have to be perfect throughout, till the last minute, we need to keep in mind that defence is our first priority, so we need to improve our structure. With the ball, we are forcing it too much, we need to play with more control.' In the first couple of minutes, India kept the ball well, like coach Craig Fulton hoped to see. A long ball into the circle by Jarmanpreet Singh was beautifully killed-dead by Dilpreet Singh under defensive pressure and it required an expert last-ditch tackle from Jip Janssen to ensure the Indian forward didn't get his shot away. India missed a massive chance to go ahead in the 9th minute. High press from Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet saw the visitors win the ball back in the Dutch circle, and from a one-on-one situation, Dilpreet couldn't get past a diving Maurits Visser and the Indian let out a cry of anguish. To India's credit, they controlled the middle of the park for a majority of the opening quarter, whether there was a press on or not. But for all the good work, Q1 finished goalless. Q2 was off to a much more open start with great chances for both teams. Floris Middendorp set up Steijn van Heijningen with a sharp pass into the circle that broke the Indian marking but Suraj Karkera was able to pull off a save. India had a chance down the other end too shortly after as Jarmanpreet made his way into the circle from down the right flank, collecting a wonder-pass from deep defence by Harmanpreet but Wisser was equal to the task once more. The breakthrough eventually came from an expected source for India. Dilpreet won the match's first penalty corner and up stepped the captain. With a low inside-out flick of sheer power, Wisser was beaten to his left by Harmanpreet's drag flick. A silly mistake from Sanjay in defence opened the door for the Dutch as they won their first PC of the match with five minutes to go in the half. But Suraj was up for the task to keep Janssen's shot away and the retake broke down from the injection. Another mistake shortly after, however, proved costly. Harmanpreet played himself into trouble just outside India's circle, getting caught in possession by van Heijningen, who fed van Dam. The No 7 cut inside, slipped but still managed to get the shot away while losing his balance. India lost their lead, and their one video review also to go with it. 'It's a soft goal to concede, it's Holland, if you make a mistake they will punish you,' Fulton said at half time. Both coaches spoke about making better decisions on the ball in the opponents' half as an area to improve. The Dutch pressure was starting to increase as van Dam found himself in space a few yards outside India's goal but he was tackled as he tried to turn the defender. India's attacking attempts were now starting to get limited to throwing hopeful long aerial balls into the circle. And then, with less than three minutes to go, came the telling blow. This wasn't necessarily off an Indian mistake but they invited too much pressure on their defence and with the quality that the Dutch possess, that was a recipe for defeat. Van Dam came up with a moment of magic, collecting a deflected ball into the circle, and from an upright position slammed a stunning reverse-hit finish past Suraj. Sometimes a magic moment is all it takes to win. Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assistant Editor and is based in New Delhi. ... Read More
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- The Hindu
FIH Pro League 2024-25: All you need to know, points table, schedule, live streaming info
The 2024-25 edition of FIH Pro League will resume on Saturday, with the European leg played across the continent till the end of June. The league started on November 30 and had the first leg played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. How many countries are competing in FIH Pro League? Nine countries are participating in the 2024-25 FIH Pro League. FIH Pro League Men Australia, Netherlands, England, India, Argentina, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Ireland FIH Pro League Women Australia, Netherlands, England, India, Argentina, Germany, Spain, Belgium, China The tournament played for over six months allows the winner to get a direct qualification into the FIH Hockey World Cup next year. Australia (men) and Netherlands (women), having won their respective FIH Pro League last season, have earned their World Cup spots. The Dutch men's team and Belgium – both men's and women's teams – have qualified by default as hosts. The remaining teams will look to occupy the lone spot left and lift the Pro League trophy. How has India performed in the Pro League so far? The Indian men's team, under coach Craig Fulton, has won five of the eight matches so far and sits third in the standings below England and Belgium. Though it began the campaign with a 1-3 loss to Spain, its last match was a 2-1 win over England at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The women's team started with a win over defending Pro League champion, the Netherlands, but has failed to maintain the momentum. With just two wins in eight matches, it is sixth in the standings. FIH Pro League standings: Men Position Team MP W D SO-Bonus L GF GA GD Points 1. England 8 4 2 2 2 25 15 9 16 2. Belgium 8 4 3 1 1 23 18 5 16 3. India 8 5 0 0 3 16 12 4 15 4. Netherlands 8 2 4 4 2 19 19 0 14 5. Germany 8 4 1 0 3 26 19 7 13 6. Australia 8 3 3 0 2 17 13 4 12 7. Spain 8 3 2 1 3 15 14 1 12 8. Argentina 8 3 0 0 5 11 17 -6 9 9. Ireland 8 0 1 0 7 11 35 -24 1 The women's team started with a win over defending Pro League champion, the Netherlands, but has failed to maintain the momentum. With just two wins in eight matches, it is sixth in the standings. FIH Pro League standings: Women Position Team MP W D SO-Bonus L GF GA GD Points 1. Netherlands 8 6 1 0 1 32 12 20 19 2. Belgium 8 5 2 0 1 21 13 8 17 3. China 8 4 3 1 1 19 12 7 16 4. Spain 8 4 1 1 3 15 17 -2 14 5. Argentina 8 3 3 2 2 14 13 1 14 6. India 8 2 2 1 4 13 19 -6 9 7. Australia 8 2 1 1 5 15 16 -1 8 8. Germany 8 1 2 1 5 11 18 -7 6 9. England 8 1 1 1 6 11 31 -20 5 * P - Played, W - Win, SO-Bonus - Win with Shootout , L - Loss, SO L - Loss with Shootout, GF - Goals For, GA - Goals Against, GD - Goals Difference, Pts - Points FIH Pro League schedule Pro League Men June 7, 2025 - Netherlands vs India - 7:30 pm June 9, 2025 - Netherlands vs India - 6:00 pm June 11, 2025 - Argentina vs India - 6:30 pm June 12, 2025 - India vs Argentina - 6:30 pm June 14, 2025 - Australia vs India - 2:00 pm June 15, 2025 - India vs Australia - 2:00 pm June 21, 2025 - Belgium vs India - 7:00 pm June 22, 2025 - Belgium vs India - 7:00 pm Pro League Women June 14, 2025 - Australia vs India - 3:30 pm June 15, 2025 - India vs Australia - 3:00 pm June 17, 2025 - Argentina vs India - 8:00 pm June 18, 2025 - India vs Argentina - 8:00 pm June 21, 2025 - Belgium vs India - 4:30 pm June 22, 2025 - Belgium vs India - 4:30 pm June 28, 2025 - China vs India - 5:30 pm June 29, 2025 - India vs China - 8:00 pm How to watch FIH Pro League in India? The FIH Pro League, both men's and women's, will be broadcast live on Star Sports 3, Star Sports Select 2 and Sports 18 HD. It can also be live-streamed on JioHotstar.
