Hockey India announces U18 men's, women's squad for Australia series

Hockey India connected Thursday announced the 24-member Indian U-18 Men's and Women's squads for the upcoming location bid against Australia from May 15 to 20.

The four-match series, to beryllium played astatine SAI Bhopal, is simply a captious portion of the teams' preparations for the Men's and Women's U-18 Asia Cup to beryllium held astatine Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29-June 6.

The squad members were selected aft a week of rigorous valuation during the nationalist coaching camp, wherever the archetypal radical of 42 players was narrowed down based connected lucifer fittingness and tactical adaptability.

Forward Ketan Kushwaha has been named skipper of the Indian U-18 men’s team, portion the Indian U-18 women’s broadside volition beryllium led by Sweety Kujur.

"After a productive week successful the camp, we person identified the 24 players whom we judge are acceptable for planetary exposure. These matches against Australia are not conscionable signifier games arsenic they are a captious trial of our lucifer temperament and tactical discipline.

“Ketan is simply a earthy leader, and I americium keen to spot however this radical handles the gait and unit of the Australian benignant earlier we caput to the U-18 Asia Cup successful Japan," said Sardar Singh, manager of men’s side.

“We person pruned the squad to 24 players who person shown the top consistency and maturation during the camp. Sweety has the acquisition and imaginativeness required to pb this young broadside effectively.

“Playing 4 matches against a top-tier broadside similar Australia successful Bhopal volition springiness america a wide representation of our strengths and the areas that request adjustment. This bid is the eventual formal rehearsal for the girls earlier the Asia Cup,” said Rani Rampal, women team’s caput coach.

U-18 Men’s Squad

Goalkeepers: Sawan Kumar, Ayush Rajak, Vishal Bada; Defenders: Ansh Bahutra, Ashish Tani Purti, Arman Soreng, Deepakprakash Toppo, Karan Gautam, Karan Dhanuk; Midfielders: Premchand Soy, Rahul Yadav, Varinder Singh, Romit Pal, Arjandeep Singh, Gursimranpreet Singh, Arshdip Singh, Avi Manikpuri; Forwards: Akash Deep, Ketan Kushwaha (Captain), Shahrukh Ali, Gazee Khan, Prahalad Rajbhar, Siddharth Ben, Jaysan Kandulna

U-18 Women’s Squad

Goalkeepers: Mahak Parihar, Harry, Khili Kumari; Defenders: Sugan Sanga, Nilam Topno, Rubina Baxla, Kiran Ekka, Divya Yadav, Sulochani; Midfielders: Shruti Kumari, Diya, Harshita, Rashmeen Kaur, Laminganbi Akoijam, Nancy Saroha, Tongbram Lanchenbi Devi, Sneha Davde; Forwards: Nousheen Naz, Sweety Kujur (Captain), Priyanka Minz, Sandeepa Kumari, Nammi Geetashree, Princess Priya Ekka, Pushpa Manjhi