Hockey India Announces Men And Women's Squads for Asian Games 2023

Veteran striker Akashdeep Singh and young Karthi Selvam have been dropped but experienced Lalit Upadhyay made a comeback to the 18-member Indian men's hockey team selected for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Hockey India selectors dropped three players -- Akashdeep, Karthi and defender Jugraj Singh from the champion side of the Asian Champions Trophy held in Chennai earlier this month. Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh and midfielder Hardik Singh will continue to don the roles of captain and vice-captain in the Asian Games.

Jugraj has been replaced by Sanjay, while Lalit and Abhishek came in place of Akashdeep and Karthi.

The team has two goalkeepers in veteran PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak.

Besides two goalkeepers, the Asian Games-bound team will have six defenders, five midfielders and as many forwards.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Savita Punia will lead the 18-member Indian women's hockey team in the Asian Games.

Experienced Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Baljeet Kaur and Jyoti Chhatri are the three players, who were part of tour of Germany and Spain last month, missed the bus.

The official announcement of the teams were made during a special send-off ceremony organised by Hockey India for the Asian Games-bound sides.

In the 12-team men's competition, India are placed in Pool A along side reigning Asian Games champions Japan, arch-rivals Pakistan, neighbours Bangladesh, Singapore and Uzbekistan while Pool B features Korea, Malaysia, China, Oman, Thailand and Indonesia.

The Indian women, who won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, is placed in Pool A along with Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore while reigning champions Japan, hosts China, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia are placed in