JOIN USInjured midfielder Gurbaj Singh was on Monday left out of India’s 32-member probables for the Olympic Qualifiers to be held here from February 18 to 26.
Gurbaj, who sustained an injury on his right knee during the start of the second phase of the preparatory camp here earlier this month, is the only notable absentee.
He did not play in India’s five-match ‘test’ series against South Africa. Even though the team management said that Gurbaj’s injury was not serious, he has been advised rest for three weeks. Karnataka youngster SK Uhtappa, after his impressive performances in the SA series, has been retained.
Hockey India selectors Balbir Singh, B P Govinda, Syed Ali alongwith chief coach, Michael Nobbs and government observers Harbinder Singh and Dilip Tirkey pruned down the the number of probables from 45 to 32.
Probables: Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri, PR Sreejesh. Defenders: Sandeep Singh, VR Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh, Harbir Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Manjeet Kullu. Midfielders: Sardar Singh, Vikram Pillay, Vikas Sharma, Arjun Halappa, Manpreet Singh, VS Vinaya, Kothajit Singh, Ignace Tirkey, Birendra Lakra. Forwards: Rajpal Singh, SV Sunil, Sarvanjit Singh, Shivendra Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Tushar Khandkar, SK Uthappa, Ravipal, Chinglensana Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, Mandeep Antil, Dharamveer Singh, Bharat, Danish Mujtaba, Akashdeep Singh.