As many as four hockey players from Odisha have been selected in the national team for the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup scheduled to be held from March 3 to 10 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
The players are Amit Rohidas, Dipsan Tirkey, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Shilanand lakra. Veteran midfielder Sardar Singh will captain the side in Malaysia and forward Ramandeep Singh will be shouldering the responsibility of vice captain.
By introducing new players to the senior fold, chief coach Marijne is looking at long-term gains for the team that has set their eyes firmly on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Sardar will play in the midfield along with SK Uthappa, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma and Simranjeet Singh. India’s defence wears a young look comprising of Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Dipsan Tirkey, Surender Kumar, Mandeep Mor and Nilam Sanjeep Xess. The Indian goalpost will be kept by Suraj Karkera and Krishan Pathak.
Apart from Sumit and Shilanand, the forward line will feature Gurjant Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Talwinder Singh.