Olympic bronze medallist Sanjay will captain a young Indian men's hockey team on a three-match tour of New Zealand from November 15 to 23, Hockey India announced on Monday, Sportstar reported.
India will play New Zealand on November 19, 21 and 22 at the Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland.
Background: a hundred years on
The tour marks 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries. In 1926, an Indian Army hockey team featuring Major Dhyan Chand toured New Zealand, the first Indian team from any sport to do so.
Why this squad
The 20-member squad blends emerging under-21 players with the core of the current India A group. "These matches come at the right time to challenge the squad in three matches against a solid New Zealand team playing at home," chief coach Craig Fulton said, The Bridge reported. He said the games would also help the support staff assess young players.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the tour would celebrate a century of sporting friendship and give young players a chance to show what they can do.
The squad
- Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Pawan
- Defenders: Sanjay (captain), Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Talem Priyobarta, Anmol Ekka, Yashdeep Siwach
- Midfielders: Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Venkatesh Kenche
- Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Uttam Singh, Karthi Selvam, Arshdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal