Indian men’s hockey team heads to Australia for five-Test series in preparation for Olympics – Firstpost

The Indian men’s hockey team has left for Australia to participate in a five-match Test series that begins on April 6, a crucial mission ahead of the Paris Olympics in July-August. The team led by Harmanpreet Singh visited Australia on Monday evening.

India have been in good form recently where they won three of the four matches in the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar.

Following the opening game on April 6, the series will feature matches on April 7, 10, 12 and 13.

The series is crucial for the team to improve its performance, build and check areas of improvement ahead of the Paris Olympics, Hockey India said in a press release.

“As we embark on this crucial tour of Australia, we are filled with determination and enthusiasm. This series represents a great opportunity for us to assess our strengths and areas for improvement ahead of the Paris Olympics,” Harmanpreet said before the team’s departure.

“We are fully committed to giving our best on the pitch and making every moment count. »

Vice-captain Hardik Singh said that this tour holds immense importance. “We have worked hard as a team to refine our skills and strategies, and we are confident in our abilities. We strive to deliver a strong performance and make our country proud,” he said.

The Indian team:

GOALKEEPERS: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, PR Sreejesh, Suraj Karkera

DEFENDERS: Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Amir Ali

MIDFIELDERS: Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh (VC), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Rajkumar Pal, Vishnukant Singh.

BEFORE: Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Boby Singh Dhami, Araijeet Singh Hundal.