New Delhi: Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has been reappointed as the captain of the Indian senior men’s hockey team while Rani Rampal will continue to lead the senior women’s side until the end of the year, Hockey India (HI) announced, Friday.
Sreejesh, who was first appointed captain in 2016 for the Champions Trophy where India won silver, replaces Manpreet Singh who had led the side at the recently-concluded Gold Coast CWG.
It should be mentioned here that Sreejesh tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and was out of action for more than six months. He made a return to the national squad in January this year at the Four-Nation Invitational hockey tournament in New Zealand.
While he was injured Sreejesh also shouldered the responsibility of mentoring the junior men’s team’s goalkeepers Vikas Dahiya and Krishan Pathak who put up excellent performances at the Junior World Cup in 2016 when hosts India won the title.
Rani on the other hand has led the eves’ squad in a very capable manner. Under her leadership, India have climbed to No.10 in world rankings, have won the Asia Cup in 2017 and made it to the semifinals of the CWG, the first time in 12 years.
HI general secretary, Md Mushtaque Ahmed said Friday, “The two have led the country with great enthusiasm and we believe that their experience will be crucial for the team in the big tournament to be played this year.”
Press trust of india
