No surprises in Indian hockey team for Asian Games

New Delhi:

Barring Arjun Hallapa and S S Gill, all the other members of the 18-member Indian team that took part in the Champions Trophy, were today retained for the upcoming Busan Asian Games where India start as defending champions. The Indian Hockey Federation announced an expected 16-member team, which will start its campaign in Busan on September 30. "We intend to do well at Asian Games and in the years to come," IHF President K P S Gill said tersely when asked about the country's chances of retaining the gold. Gill sought to allay all apprehensions on alleged disharmony in the side saying, "the team discipline is excellent". Placed in Pool A, India will take on Hong Kong in their first match of the tournament. Dilip Tirkey will continue to lead the side, which performed considerably well in their last major tournament at Cologne. With as many as 12 players from the Junior World Cup team in the side, India will be the youngest team in fray at the Games. Team: Dilip Kumar Tirkey (captain), Devesh Singh Chauhan (goalkeeper), Bharat Kumar, Jugraj Singh, Dinesh Nayak Vatheir, Vikram Pillay, Ignnace Tirkey, Bimal Lakra, Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Daljit Singh Dhillon, Tajbir Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, Deepak Thakur, Kanwalpreet Singh, Viren Rasquinha. (PTI)