Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Changes in India squad after Paris Olympics Bronze Medal

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With the Asian Champions Trophy commencing on Sunday, September 8, six continental sides are set to lock horns at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir, the People's Republic of China. Interestingly, this will be the Indian hockey team's first competition since winning bronze at Paris 2024.

Hockey India made some important changes, keeping the next mega event, the World Cup, scheduled to take place in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2026. Team India head coach Craig Fulton has two years to prepare the team for the grand event.

Harmanpreet Singh will continue to lead the Indian side at the Asian Champions Trophy with Vivek Sagar Prasad appointed as his deputy. Hardik Singh, the vice-captain at the Paris Olympics 2024, has been rested.

Other notable changes include Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, and Shamsher Singh, who were part of the Paris 2024 squad, have been rested. With PR Sreejesh retiring from international hockey, team India has two goalkeepers for the Asian event.

Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera are the two goalkeepers selected for the exciting event in China. Additionally, there are a few additions to the squad compared to the one that competed in Paris.

Among midfielders, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen joins the squad while Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, and Gurjot Singh are the new selections in the forwards section for the Asian Champions Trophy.

A total of six teams are competing at the Asian Champions Trophy namely India, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Pakistan, and hosts China. India will enter the competition as the defending champions, having defeated Malaysia 4-3 in the final in Chennai last year.

Team India squad for the Asian Champions Trophy

• Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera
• Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit
• Midfielders: Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad (VC), Manpreet Singh, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen
• Forwards: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh