New Delhi: Discarded penalty-corner specialist Sandeep Singh, who leads the goal-scoring charts in the ongoing Hockey India League (HIL) was on Tuesday named among the standbys for India's 18-member squad for the FIH Hockey World League Round 2 to be played in New Delhi from February 18.
Hockey India selector Syed Ali, Chief Coach Michael Nobbs and exercise physiologist Jason Konrath, along with Government Observer Harbinder Singh, selected the team - to be led by star midfielder Sardar Singh - on the basis of their recent performance in the ongoing inaugural season of Hero Hockey India League.
Defender VR Raghunath will be the vice captain, with the notable exclusion from the squad being forward Yuvraj Walmiki who was part of the team that returned fourth from the Champions League in Australia. Also midfielder Gurmail Singh and Akashdeep Singh have been dropped into the standby list from the first 18.
However, junior India international Mandeep Singh - who plays for Ranchi Rhinos in the HIL and is second on the list of goal-scorers with 8 strikes after Mumbai Magicians' skipper Sandeep's 11 - has been called up for the senior team.
The preparatory camp for the Hero Hockey World League Round 2 will start at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi from 11 February 2013. The tournament also doubles up as the qualification league for the World Cup 2014 to be held in The Hague, Netherlands.
India (ranked 11th) are joined in the round-robin event by Ireland (15), China (18), Oman (36), Bangladesh (40) and Fiji (71). India open their campaign against Fiji on 18 February. All India matches will be played under flood lights.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, PT Rao,
Defenders: VR Raghunath (vice captain), Rupinderpal Singh, Harbir Singh
Midfielders: Sardar Singh (captain), Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Sardar Singh (Captain), Gurjinder Singh,
Forwards: Danish Mujtaba, Mandeep Singh, Malak Singh, SV Sunil, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Dharamvir Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi
Standbys: Sushant Tirkey (goalkeeper), Sandeep Singh (defender), MB Aiyappa (midfielder), Gurmail Singh (midfielder), Akashdeep Singh (forward), Imran Khan (forward)
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