Odisha’s Birendra Lakra In Indian Men’s Hockey Team For Australia Tour

Bhubaneswar: Odisha-born hockey player Birendra Lakra has found place in Indian Men’s Hockey Team for upcoming Australia tour in Perth, beginning May 10.

The Indian team, under newly-appointed Chief Coach Graham Reid, will be lead by Manpreet Singh with Surender Kumar as the vice-captain.

After nearly eight months, experienced defender and drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh return to the team. He will play in the back line along with Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Birender Lakra, Gurinder Singh and Kothajit Singh. PR Sreejesh and Krishan B Pathak will guard the goalpost in these four matches.

Midfielders Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Nilakanta Sharma have been named in the squad along with Jalandhar-born 25-year-old midfielder Jaskaran Singh who has been given an opportunity to make his International debut in Australia, according to Hockey India official website.

Akashdeep Singh, who was rested for the season opener in Ipoh, Malaysia, has also been named for the forward line along with Armaan Qureshi, Mandeep Singh, Sumit Kumar Jr. and Gursahibjit Singh.

India began this season with a Silver Medal at the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2019 in March. This tour assumes significance ahead of the team selection for the much-awaited FIH Men’s Hockey Series Final Bhubaneswar Odisha 2019.