Manpreet Singh to lead India in Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

Indian hockey team midfielder Manpreet Singh will take over the captaincy from PR Sreejesh in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in Muscat.

It will Indian hockey team's first major tournament after the retirement of Sardar Singh.

Hockey India on Wednesday named the 18-member squad for the 5th men's Asian Champions Trophy 2018, scheduled to begin in Oman on 18 October.

The Indian team will go into the tournament as defending champions as they won the 2016 edition after beating Pakistan 3-2 in the final in Malaysia.

Alongside experienced goalkeeper in Sreejesh, the team also features young goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, while the defensive unit will see seasoned defender Kothajit Singh Khadangbam make a comeback.

Senior defender and penalty corner specialist Rupinder Pal Singh, on the other hand, has been dropped.

Harmanpreet Singh, Gurinder Singh, Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar and Jarmanpreet Singh will also be involved in India's defence while 20-year-old Hardik Singh will be making his debut for the senior team.