New Delhi, Oct 17: Dependable defender and former captain Dilip Tirkey was once again entrusted with the task of leading the side as the Indian Hockey Federation today named a 16-member squad for the inaugural Afro-Asian Games starting in Hyderabad on October 24. Tirkey was the captain of the side before being replaced by the senior-most member of the team Dhanraj Pillay, who took over the reins early this year.
Drag flicker Len Aiyappa and Arjun Halappa made a comeback to the side while captain of the national Under-21 team Prabodh Tirkey, a regular in the senior camps in recent times, made it to the side following an impressive performance in the six-nation junior tournament at Poland.
Bharat Chetri was named the second custodian in the side, the regular being Devesh Chauhan. Pillay along with seven members of the team which won its maiden Asia Cup title in Malaysia late last month, have been "rested" by the IHF keeping an eye on important tournaments ahead.
The team consists of two goalkeepers, three full backs, six mid-fielders and five forwards.
The team: Dilip Tirkey (capt), Devesh Chauhan, Bharat Chetri, Kanwalpreet Singh, Harpal Singh, Bimal Lakra, Vikram Pillay, Ignace Tirkey, Prabodh Tirkey, Viren Rasquinha, Len Aiyappa, Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Michael, Arjun Halappa. Bureau Report