Asian Champions Trophy 2023: Top five Indian players to watch out for

Published at :August 3, 2023 at 3:35 AM

Modified at :January 13, 2024 at 4:52 PM

(Courtesy : Hockey India)

An 18-member strong squad set to represent India in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023.

Hockey enthusiasts are gearing up for an exhilarating showdown as the highly anticipated Asian Champions Trophy 2023 tournament is set to take place in Chennai from August 3-12. The tournament promises intense competition among the top six teams from the continent including arch-rivals Pakistan.

With this being the seventh edition of the event, the teams will be vying for glory as the tournament serves as a vital precursor to the Hangzhou Asian Games in September – a crucial qualifier for the Paris Olympic Games 2024. The tournament’s pool stage will see India battling it out against opponents including China, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Japan.

India enters the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 as a formidable force having clinched the title thrice. As a first-time host of the tournament’s seventh edition, the weight of expectations is immense. Backed by abundant resources and impressive performances against top teams worldwide, India emerges as the firm favorite for the title. Following a rigorous four-nation tournament in Spain, the Indian team faces the challenge of adapting to widely contrasting conditions against China — their first opponent in a short three-day gap after the last match in Spain.

On July 25, Hockey India revealed the 18-member men’s hockey team lineup for the Asian Champions Trophy 2023. Chief Coach Craig Fulton expressed his confidence in the team selection, stating, “We have carefully chosen a squad that has the potential to go on and give a good account of themselves in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023.”

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He highlighted the squad’s combination of youth and experience and described it as an exciting phase for the players as they will be competing in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation International Tournament in Spain before they gear up for the eagerly awaited home games in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023. The players are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of their passionate home fans, he added.

Here are Top five Indian Players to watch out for in Asian Champions Trophy 2023.

Selvam Karthi

Karthi Selvam — **Karthi will return to his home state as part of the senior Indian team (Courtesy: Hockey India)**

Keep an eye on 21-year-old Selvam Karthi, who carries hopes for a hockey’s resurgence in Tamil Nadu. Playing on home turf in a tournament seen as a potential revival for the sport in the state is a significant honor for the young talent.

Demonstrating his composure and exceptional skills, Karthi left an impression during the Pro League games and the Asia Cup by fearlessly scoring against formidable teams like Germany and Belgium. His adept positioning and ability to find scoring angles within the circle make him the much-needed poacher for the Indian team.

Harmanpreet Singh

Harmanpreet Singh, the ace dragflicker and defender will continue to lead the team. He played a key role in India’s bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Chennai holds a special significance for him as it was where he was discovered by Roelant Oltmans during the Junior National Championships in 2015. Following his impressive performance, he earned a call-up to the national camp and subsequently made his senior debut the same year and was named in the Indian squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Harmanpreet gradually established his presence within the Indian hockey team emerging as the key player for penalty corners. His remarkable journey led him to achieve his 100th international goal during the FIH Pro League 2022-23 and as the tournament’s highest scorer, he secured an impressive total of 18 goals. India secured a commendable fourth-place finish, trailing behind Netherlands, Great Britain and Belgium. He continued his scoring spree by adding four more goals in the subsequent four-nation tournament in Spain.

Despite concerns raised by other teams, such as Malaysia and Korea who deemed a tournament on a new turf so close to the Asian Games as less than ideal, Harmanpreet has chosen to adopt a positive outlook as the captain and emphasised that the team’s primary focus remains on achieving victory.

Hardik Singh

As the team arrived in Chennai, India’s Vice-Captain, Hardik Singh emphasised the importance of controlling the game’s tempo. Having made his debut at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat, where India and Pakistan were joint winners due to persistent rain in the final, Hardik has now earned his 100th International Caps for India.

This milestone was achieved during their match against England in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – International Tournament held in Barcelona, Spain showcasing his prowess as an ace midfielder.

PR Sreejesh

PR Sreejesh, a veteran of three Olympics, has been a pivotal figure in the Indian men’s hockey team for over a decade. Since his debut at the 2006 South Asian Games in Sri Lanka, the talented goalkeeper has maintained a consistent presence in the Indian squad even amidst various management changes.

Renowned in world hockey for his exceptional instincts, Sreejesh’s prowess shines brightest in penalty shoot-out situations making him an invaluable asset to the team.

Akashdeep Singh

The 28-year-old has dedicated a decade to his career in India by earning numerous medals in Asian and Commonwealth Games, participating in three World Cups and making a single appearance at the Olympics. This year, his determination was fueled by a renewed hunger stemming from being left out of the Tokyo Olympics.

He had to reestablish his worth and in his transformed role, Akashdeep Singh is now versatile enough to step in as a midfielder when needed. This adaptation has not only solidified his position in the Indian squad but has also enabled him, a primarily known striker, to thrive.

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