Senior hockey players of the Indian team will be out of contention to represent at the highest level as defending champions India will head forward with an unchanged 18-member squad under the captaincy of Sardar Singh for the second Asian Champions Trophy to be held at Doha from December 20-27.
The Indian hockey team was unable to salvage some pride by going down tamely to Pakistan during their quest to win a bronze medal at least in the Champions Trophy. After performing exceptionally by beating much stronger teams like Belgium, the Indians lost track after losing to Australia in the semis.
As far as the previous Asian Champions Trophy is considered, the team had a ball as it handed out a humiliating defeat to archrivals Pakistan 4-2 via penalty shootout en route to the title previous year held in Ordos, China. Currently, the same team has been fielded which represented the country recently in the FIH Champions Trophy in Melbourne.
Full-back VR Raghunath will remain to be Sardar's deputy in the side, which does not contain the likes of ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, Shivendra Singh, Tushar Khandkar, former captain Bharat Chetri among others.
Hockey India selectors decided in retrospect to the tinkering of the team after India's impressive outing in the ongoing Champions Trophy, an event where India had an array of historical memories as it last won a medal (bronze) in 1982.
Eight-time Olympic champions India had reached the last four stage of the Champions Trophy for the first time this year since 2004.
Sandeep and Shivendra, eventually, got away with a place yet in the eight-man stand-bye list.
Coach Michael Nobbs has been the happiest man of all considering that the boys have performed exceptionally after coming back from humiliation when they have put up a dismal show at the London Olympics 2012. Skippering the side now will be Sardar Singh and it has to be seen that how the Rania man will lead the side.
It is because of the loss to Germany that Sardar even lost the FIH Player of the Award 2012 as he narrowly missed it out to Australia’s Moritz Fuerste. Though after getting shortlisted for the prestigious award and not getting it in the last moments is something that causes some sadness, the Indian skipper is not someone to get bogged down easily.
The 2012 edition of the Asian Champions Trophy will also feature China, Japan, Malaysia, Oman and Pakistan.
India will begin its campaign against China on December 20 followed by matches against Japan (December 21), Oman (December 23), Pakistan (December 24) and Malaysia.
Other Indian players have been expressing their views in the media after mixed reactions have been pouring from all corners of the country.
"We seemed to have found our rhythm right from the first game. The midfield and defence played extremely well," India's young rising star from Mumbai, Yuvraj Walmiki informed in Melbourne.
Hopefully, the new age Indian team will now carry the hopes of eager fans back home in a successful manner at Doha.
