Chetri to lead India in Olympics

Goalkeeper Bharat Chetri will lead India in the Olympic men’s field hockey competition in London next month, Hockey India announced Monday. India have won eight Olympic field hockey gold medals, but the last of their triumphs came in 1980 and they return to the contest after failing to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games. They are drawn with defending champions Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands in Pool B of the group stage. Pool A comprises Australia, Argentina, Spain, Great Britain, Pakistan and South Africa. The Indian squad, coached by Australian Michael Nobbs, will train in France and Spain from June 28 before heading for London, Hockey India said. India’s squad (international matches in brackets): Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (capt, 130), P. Sreejesh (51) Defenders: V. R. Raghunath (110), Ignace Tirkey (246), Sandeep Singh (168) Midfielders: Sardar Singh (vice-capt, 136), Gurbaj Singh (148), Birendra Lakra (26), Manpreet Singh (35) Forwards: S.V Sunil (93), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (75), Shivendra Singh (148), Danish Mujtaba (78), Tushar Khandekar (219), Dharamvir Singh (19), S. K. Uthappa (21) Standbys: Sarvanjit Singh (123), Kothajit Singh (18) Chief coach: Michael Nobbs (AUS)