Youngsters make it to Test camp

However, the IHF’s choice is likely to raise eyebrows in the case of six of the 24 selected for the camp. Four of them are experienced players who disappointed in Malaysia.

Chief coach Rajinder Singh recalled Deedar Singh, who accompanied the team for the Champions Trophy in Holland last year but did not play. Deedar was given another opportunity in the Asia Cup in KL; he failed to justify his selection but returns to the camp.

Goalkeeper Kamaldeep Singh, drag-flicker Len Ayyappa and striker Sandeep Michael were other disappointments at the Azlan Shah but they have still been included for the camp. Michael failed to score in the tournament and drag-flicker Len Ayyappa had just 33 percent success rate in conversion of penalty-corners. Goalkeeper Kamaldeep Singh conceded 14 goals in four matches.

Their inclusion is, however, not half as surprising as that of Anurag Raghuvanshi and Surinder Kundu. Both were ordinary in the domestic season and Raghuvanshi has been recalled after a gap of four years. Incidentally, he’s a member of the ONGC team at the domestic level, which recently announced that they wanted to invest in hockey.

Veterans Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon, who were injured during the Azlan Shah, have also been asked to join the camp at Manesar.