Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s three junior hockey players named in the 18-memer Indian team, announced by Hockey India on Monday, the team will take part in the prestigious Men's Junior Asia Cup, qualifying event for FIH Hockey Junior World Cup 2025, to be held in Muscat, Oman from 26th November to 4th December 2024. India has won this tournament for a record four times including 2023, 2015, 2008 and 2004. They beat nemesis Pakistan 2-1 in the final last year to lift the title.
Odisha players are Anmol Ekka, Roshan Kujur, and Mukesh Toppo in the defending team which will be led by Amir Ali and Rohit as vice-captain.
This year, the event will see 10 teams from the continent divided into two pools with India, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea and Thailand in pool A and Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Oman and Pakistan in Pool B. Although India qualifies for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup by virtue of being the hosts, the team under Coach PR Sreejesh will be vying to carry on their momentum from their recent success at the Sultan of Johor Cup where they finished on the podium.
Indian Squad: Goalkeepers: Princedeep Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Defenders: Amir Ali, Talem Priyobarta, Shardanand Tiwari, Yogember Rawat, Anmol Ekka, Rohit, Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Mukesh Toppo, Thokchom Kingson Singh, Forwards: Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal.
