New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) Goalkeeper Bharat Chettri Monday was named captain of the Indian hockey team for the Olympics.
The 16-member squad and two stand-bys were announced by Hockey India (HI) after trials at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune conducted June 6-7.
The trials were watched by HI selectors B.P. Govinda and Balbir Singh, alongwith chief coach Michael Nobbs, assictant coach Mohammed Riaz, exercise physiologist David John and government observer Harbinder Singh.
Sarvanjit Singh and Kothajit Singh are the two stand-bys while Sardar Singh has been named the vice-captain.
Eight-time champions India have been clubbed with Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand and Belgium in Group B. Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Pakistan, Argentina and South Africa are in Group A.
India start their campaign against the Netherlands July 30 at the Riverbank Arena. They next face New Zealand August 1, Olympic champions Germany August 3, South Korea August 4 and Belgium August 7.
All the matches will be played on blue artificial turf with yellow kookaburra balls. The pitch has pink runways.
The Indian team will reach London July 19 after its Europe tour of France and Spain.
India, who missed the 2008 Beijing Games for the first time in 80 years, qualified for the 2012 London Games beating France 8-1 in the final match of the qualifier here earlier this year.
Olympic squad:
Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (captain) and P.R. Sreejesh.
Defenders: V.R.Raghunath, Ignace Tirkey, Sandeep Singh.
Midfielders: Sardar Singh (vice captain), Gurbaj Singh, Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh.
Forwards: S.V. Sunil, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Shivendra Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Tushar Khandker, Dharamvir Singh, S.K. Uthappa.
Stand-bys: Sarvanjit Singh and Kothajit Singh
Team officials: Michael Nobbs (chief coach), Mohammed Riaz (coach), Clarence Lobo (coach), David John (physiotherapist), Shrikant Iyengar (manager), Hari Shanker Narayanan (video analyst).
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