New Delhi: The Indian Hockey Team has suffered a big setback just before the Asian Champions Trophy. Experienced midfielder Manpreet Singh has been ruled out of the tournament due to a calf injury. In his place, Vivek Sagar Prasad has now been included in the team. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh confirmed this news in a press conference held in Jalandhar on Monday. This announcement has come just a day before the host team begins its campaign against Bangladesh.
Vivek Sagar in place of Manpreet
Manpreet Singh's injury has come at a time when India is preparing to defend its title on home soil. This tournament also marks the return of international hockey to Punjab after 17 years, which will give many players an opportunity to play in front of their family and friends. Vivek Sagar, who has made his mark as a reliable player in the Indian midfield, will now replace Manpreet. His return will give the team another experienced option in the midfield, especially for this challenging six-team tournament.
India's schedule and challenges
India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday. After this, it will face China on 29 October, Japan on 30 October, Malaysia on 1 November and South Korea on 2 November. The top four teams from the league stage will play the semi-finals on 4 November, while the final will be held on 5 November in Mohali. The Indian team is a five-time champion and the current title holder. He is also entering this competition as an Asian Games gold medalist, in which the Asian Games team is the majority. However, Manpreet's absence takes away a lot of experience from the team's midfield. The team management will now try to ensure that this change does not hamper the preparations for the first match.
Will be supported by domestic audience
This tournament holds special importance for Indian players, because many of them belong to Punjab. Along with captain Harmanpreet, players like Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh will get an opportunity to play in front of the home crowd. Head coach Craig Fulton has also welcomed the opportunity to compete in India again. He stressed the importance of support from the stands. India will face a tough challenge from Malaysia, while Japan and South Korea will also try to surprise the favorite teams. Given the short recovery time between matches in the tournament, team management will be crucial as India look for their sixth Asian Champions Trophy title. For now, the focus will be on adapting to Manpreet's absence and starting the campaign with a win against Bangladesh.