Hockey India has unveiled the squad for the 2024 Sultan of Johor Cup, set to commence on October 19 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The Indian under-21 team, coached by legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, will face strong competition from nations such as Japan, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and hosts Malaysia in the round-robin stage.

India’s first game will be against Japan on October 19, as they aim to secure a place in the final by finishing in the top two after the group stage. The tournament is a crucial stepping stone in the preparation for the Men’s Junior Asia Cup in Muscat, which takes place in November.

Defender Amir Ali, who has been named captain, and forward Gurjot Singh are among the key players in the squad, both having been part of the senior team that recently defended their title at the Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China. Amir Ali played a vital role in filling the gap left by the injured defender Sanjay, while Gurjot Singh led the forward line, showing his capability to perform at the highest level.

“The Sultan of Johor Cup is an important tournament in our calendar as always. The tournament will serve as a litmus test for the team ahead of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup Muscat 2024 in November this year,” Amir Ali said in a statement released by Hockey India.

Vice-captain Rohit expressed the team’s excitement about being guided by a seasoned veteran like PR Sreejesh. “We have an Indian hockey legend taking charge of the team. The whole team is raring to go. PR Sreejesh is one of the most experienced players to play for India, and we look forward to making him proud in our first tournament,” said Rohit.

The Indian squad is filled with young talent eager to showcase their potential. Sreejesh’s leadership and experience are expected to bring an additional layer of confidence to the squad as they face top international junior teams.

India Squad – Sultan of Johor Cup 2024:

Goalkeepers: Bikramjit Singh, Ali Khan  

Defenders: Amir Ali (c), Talem Priyobarta, Shardanand Tiwari, Sukhvinder, Anmol Ekka, Rohit (vc)  

Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Mukesh Toppo, Chandan Yadav  

Forwards: Gurjot Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Mohd. Konain Dad