Hockey: 2 Chandigarh lads selected for Jr World Cup squad

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

Two trainees of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy’s Khelo India batch have been selected in the 18-member Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team, who will defend the title at the much-awaited FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021.

The event is slated to begin on November 24 will witness 16 top teams from across the globe vie for the honours, which was previously won by India in 2016.

Defender Sanjay has been appointed vice-captain of the national squad and striker Maninder Singh has been included in the squad.

Both lads were inducted in the Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) in 2011. Since then they have been part of the institution under UT Sports Department’s coach Gurminder Singh. Both players have represented the city in many nationals and also in the School Asian Games (2017). Maninder was also adjudged best scorer for the School Asian Games. Sanjay captained this side. They were again called to represent the nation in the Youth Olympics Games, Argentina (2018). The team has won a silver medal in this championship. They again paired to represent the nation in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia twice in 2018 and 2019.

“Both players have played a number of nationals, including the Nehru Gold Cup and Khelo India Games for Chandigarh. They were part of many gold winning teams. Since day one, they have shown dedication towards learning hockey. They have proved that dedication is a key to success. I am happy over their selection and confident that they will prove their worth in the tournament,” said Gurminder Singh.

“They have been the backbone of our squad in many tourneys. While Sanjay is a calm defender, Maninder is totally opposite and likes to play aggressive hockey. Both players possess skill work and have a long way to go in their hockey career,” Gurminder added.

The Indian junior men’s team will see Vivek Sagar Prasad, who was part of India’s historic Olympic bronze medal feat, captaining the squad while Sanjay, who was part of the India U-18 team that won silver at the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires, will be his deputy.

“To choose the best 18 players to represent their country is one of the hardest things to do in sport. Each of these guys have put their everything into trying to make this team for the last 12 to 18 months. Through Covid, through sanctions and lockdowns, sacrifices have been made,” said Indian team’s chief coach Graham Reid.

“We have chosen a group of 20 players, a team of 18 and two alternate players, who we believe gives us the best chance of defending our title as Junior World Cup Champions. It is a well-balanced side with a lot of flexibility and flare. The key to these guys performing on the big stage will be to trust in each other in their preparation,” Reid added.

“Five players of Hockey Chandigarh, including Sanjay, Maninder Singh, Sukhman, Diljeet Singh and Amandeep, were in the national camp out of which two have been selected. It’s a proud moment for us,” said Anil Vohra, general secretary, Hockey Chandigarh.