New Delhi: Hockey India on Thursday announced an expected 33-member core group for the Senior Men’s National Coaching Camp, scheduled to be held in Rourkela, Odisha, from February 1 to 7. The camp is an important part of India’s preparations for the upcoming phase of the FIH Men’s Pro League, which will be held from February 10 to 15 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.
The home leg of the Pro League will be India’s first international season this year and expectations are high as the team looks to build momentum in front of home fans. The camp comes shortly after the conclusion of the Hero Hockey India League, a tournament that has once again proven to be an important platform for both established stars and emerging talent.
The league offered older players valuable match practice and gave younger players the chance to compete alongside some of the best international ice hockey players. The performances in the tournament went a long way in shaping the squad selected for the Rourkela camp.
Four goalkeepers have been named in the core group – Pawan, Suraj Karkera, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar and Princedeep Singh. All four have shown consistency at national and league level and provided the coaching staff with strong options between the posts.
The defense has a solid mix of experience and youth. The group includes Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sumit, Poovanna Chandura Boby, Yashdeep Siwach, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Amandeep Lakra. With leaders like Harmanpreet Singh and reliable defenders like Amit Rohidas, the defense is expected to provide both stability and attacking threat, especially at penalty corners.
In midfield, the players opted for balance and versatility. The group consists of Rajinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Hardik Singh, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Vishnu Kant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma and Rosan Kujur. This department will play a critical role in controlling the pace of play during the Pro League by linking defense and offense while managing the fast pace of international ice hockey.
The forward line has a strong attacking unit with several proven goalscorers. Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Mandeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Angad Bir Singh, Uttam Singh, Selvam Karthi, Aditya Arjun Lalage and Maninder Singh complete the list. The strikers are expected to take responsibility for converting chances against top international teams with a mixture of speed, creativity and finishing ability.
Ahead of the camp, Craig Fulton, head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, explained the thinking behind the selection. “After the Hero Hockey India League, we felt this was the right time to change the squad. We gave a few experienced players a break to cope with the workload while rewarding the performances of players who earned their opportunity,” said Fulton.
He also stressed the importance of the upcoming Games in shaping India’s long-term plans. “The Pro League matches in Rourkela and Hobart are an important part of the selection process towards finalizing the squad for the World Cup and Asian Games,” he added.
The Rourkela portion of the Pro League is particularly important for Indian hockey. The team will play at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, one of the finest venues in the country, and will once again enjoy strong home support. The stadium has quickly become a fortress of Indian hockey and the fans create an electric atmosphere at international matches.
For several young players who are part of the likely core group, the camp represents a unique opportunity to impress the national coaching staff and push for a permanent place in the senior squad. With major tournaments like the World Cup and Asian Games on the horizon, every training session and game will have added significance.
When the team assembles in Rourkela from February 1, the focus will be on fitness, tactical clarity and combination building. With a fresh start to the year and a busy international calendar, the Indian hockey team hopes this camp lays the foundation for a successful 2026 season.
33-man roster for Senior Men’s Camp
GOALKEEPER
1 Pawan
2 Suraj Karkera
3 Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar
4 Princedeep Singh
DEFENDER
5 Amit Rohidas
6 Jarmanpreet Singh
7Sanjay
8 Harmanpreet Singh
9 Yugraj Singh
10 Sumit
11 Poovanna Chandura Boby
12 Yashdeep Siwach
2
14 Amandeep Lakra
MIDFIELDER
15 Rajinder Singh
16 Manmet Singh
17 Hardik Singh
18 Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh
19 Vivek Sagar Prasad
20 Vishnu Kant Singh
21 Raj Kumar Pal
22 Sung Sharma
23 Rosan Kujur
FORWARD
24 Abhishek
25 Sukhjeet Singh
26 Shilanand Lakra
27 Mandeep Singh
28 Araijeet Singh Hundal
29 Angad Bir Singh
30 Uttam Singh
31 Selvam Karthi
32 Aditya Arjun Lalage
33 Maninder Singh
