Krishan Pathak Named Main Goalkeeper for Indian Hockey Team in Asian Champions Trophy
Krishan Bahadur Pathak has been appointed as the main goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, following the retirement of veteran PR Sreejesh. The tournament will be held in Hulunbuir, China, from September 8-17, and will feature defending champions India alongside Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and hosts China.
Pathak, who served as India’s standby goalkeeper at the Paris Olympics and in previous tournaments, will now take on the primary role, with Suraj Karkera as the reserve custodian. Experienced midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad has been named vice-captain, replacing Hardik Singh, who has been rested along with Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Shamsher Singh, and Gurjant Singh.
The tournament presents a significant opportunity for promising drag-flicker Jugraj Singh, who traveled to the Paris Olympics as a standby and will aim to prove his credentials alongside the formidable Harmanpreet Singh. Jugraj has demonstrated his abilities in limited appearances in the Pro League and will seek to solidify his place in the team. Araijeet Singh Hundal will serve as the third drag-flicker.
The Indian defense will be anchored by Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, and Sumit. The midfield will comprise Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh, and Mohammed Raheel, while a young forward line featuring Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Hundal, junior India captain Uttam Singh, and debutant Gurjot Singh will lead the attack.
Ten players from the Paris Olympics bronze medal-winning squad have been included in this team. Chief coach Craig Fulton emphasized the importance of the tournament for building ranking points and continuing the team’s momentum after their Olympic success. He also highlighted the inclusion of young players who have earned their opportunity through impressive performances in training.
India will commence their campaign against China on September 8, followed by a match against Japan the next day. After a day’s rest, they will face Malaysia on September 11 and Korea the following day. The team will then take on arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14. The semi-finals and final are scheduled for September 16 and 17, respectively.