Indian Hockey Team announced for France and Spain Tours

In the run up to the London Olympics Games 2012, Team India will play a two match Test Series against France and a 3 Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament at Santander, Spain from 28- 30 June 2012 and 14-18 July 2012 respectively.

During the three week tour in France and Spain, Team India will play total of 8 matches before shifting to Olympic Village in London. These matches will help Team India to acclimatize to the European conditions which will be similar to the conditions of London in July and August when they will take part in the London Olympic Games 2012.

Selection trials were conducted at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on 6 and 7 June 2012 witnessed by Hockey India selectors B. P Govinda and Col.Balbir Singh, alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh.

The 22 member squad will be Captained by Bharat Chetri while Sardar Singh will be Vice-Captain of the team.

The team is as under Bharat Chetri(Captain), P R Sreejesh,Defenders, V R Raghunath, Ignace ,Tirkey, Sandeep Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh,Sardar Singh (Vice Captain), Kothajit Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh, SV Sunil, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Sarvanjit Singh, Shivendra Singh, Danish Mujtaba,Tushar Khandker, Dharamvir Singh, Chinglensana Singh, S K Uthappa, Nithin ,Thimmaiah and Pradhan Somanna.

It is noted that India will play two test matches against France in Lille on 28 and 30 June 2012.The team will take part in a 3 Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament at Santander, Spain from 14-18 July 2012. Before the start of 3 Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament, Team India will play two test matches each against Spain and South Africa from 5- 11 July 2012 at the same venue.