Hockey India names David John, BJ Kariappa and Shivendra Singh as interim coaches
Hockey India has named Hardik Singh as vice-captain for the upcoming FIH Pro League home matches against Germany and Australia.
Hockey
Following Graham Reid's exit as India’s head coach after the FIH hockey World Cup, Australia’s David John along with BJ Kariappa and Shivendra Singh will assume the roles of interim coaches for the Indian men’s hockey team.
David John is a physiologist who worked as Hockey India's high-performance director. He is credited for playing a significant role in helping Indian teams reach the desired fitness levels ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
BJ Kariappa is a former junior Indian hockey team coach while Shivendra Singh played as a forward in the Indian men’s senior team.
The trio will guide India in their FIH Pro League 2022-23 matches against world champions Germany and world No. 4 Australia in Rourkela next month. India will play two matches each against the two teams. Hockey India also named a 20-member squad for the same.
India will be led by experienced campaigner Harmanpreet Singh. Hardik Singh has been named the vice-captain of the team in place of Amit Rohidas.
The Indian team includes experienced goal-keeper PR Sreejesh. Goal-keeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak is not available since his wedding dates are clashing with the FIH Pro League matches.
The Indian defence will be manned by Harmanpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh while Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Raj Kumar Pal will lead the midfield. The forwards include S Karthi, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, and Gurjant.
The Indian team for the FIH Hockey Pro League will continue to train in SAI, Bengaluru till March 6 before they move to Rourkela for the matches.
India will take on Germany in the first match on March 10 and their second match against Germany will be played on March 13. India will play Australia, the reigning Commonwealth Games champions, on March 12 and 15.
India, with eight points from four matches, are currently second on the FIH Pro League 2022-23 points table behind Great Britain, who have nine points from four matches.
FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-2023: Indian squad vs Germany and Australia
Goalkeepers: Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Pawan
Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Manjeet, Manpreet Singh
Midfielders: Hardik Singh (vice-captain), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Raj Kumar Pal
Forwards: S Karthi, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Gurjant Singh