chak de sreejesh!

HOCKEY

Indian

PR Sreejesh: The wall of Indian hockey, Sreejesh has been mainstay in the Indian goal for four years now despite getting a debut in 2006. He saved two in the penalty shoot-out against South Korea to help clinch bronze at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and turned hero in the Hockey World league finals. Here too, he saved two penalty attempts to ensure India finished with a bronze.

Akashdeep Singh

At the Hockey India league auction, Akashdeep was the most expensive Indian pick at $84,000 for UP Wizards. Recognising his talent and the skills that he possesses, he's been nominated for 'Rising Star of the Year'. The ONGC and Punjab player at 21 years old is growing leaps and bounds and already has 91 caps with 31 goals under his belt. He found a place on the scoresheet against Germany for the HWl Finals in Raipur — a rarity given India scored only 7 goals in four matches.

INTERNATIONAl

Mark Knowles

There are very few in the world of sport who could claim to have participated in four different Olympics and that is exactly what the Kokkaburras captain is on course for if he plays in Rio de Janiero. A veteran of 269 international caps, Knowles won the 2014 Player of the Year Award and is named this year too. leading the number one tem in the world, Knowles took his side to victory in the HWl Finals with a 2-1 win over Belgium.