Rupinder Pal, Yuvraj Walmiki likely to be axed from Olympic squad
Forwards Rupinder Pal Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki are all set to be axed from the 16-member senior hockey squad that will take part in the London Olympics.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: June 07, 2012 10:40 PM IST
Forwards Rupinder Pal Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki are all set to be axed from the 16-member senior hockey squad that will take part in the London Olympics.
The squad is set to be formally announced here on Friday but the selection committee has already decided on the 16-member squad that will be competing at the quadrennial extravaganza.
While Rupinder and Walmiki are set to get the boot, veteran defender Ignace Tirkey and striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi are in all likelihood going to make a comeback. The 14 others will be those who have recently played in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament.
"Walmiki and Rupinder Pal's performance haven't been upto the mark and we can't take risk with these players in a big event like Olympics. Ignace's experience will come in handy while Gurwinder will add muscle to the forward line," a selector told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Meanwhile, apart from the 16-members, Hockey India will be sending an additional six members from the junior squad for a training camp at Lille in France.
On Thursday, HI secretary genertal Narinder Batra also announced that the association has already signed 30 players for the cah-rich Hockey India League (HIL) scheduled to be held in January, next year.