India led by Uttam Singh at the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup 2023

Hockey India has announced the Indian team for the highly anticipated FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December. Uttam Singh will lead the team while Araijeet Singh Hundal will be his deputy. India has been drawn in Pool C alongside Canada, Korea, and Spain. The team's campaign will begin on December 5 with a match against Korea, followed by matches against Spain and Canada on December 7 and 9 respectively.

The upcoming tournament will have the defending champions Argentina playing in Pool A, along with Australia, Chile and the host nation, Malaysia. Pool B will feature Egypt, France, Germany, and South Africa. Pool D will see Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Pakistan compete fiercely for a spot in the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals will take place on December 12, followed by the semi-finals on December 14, and the final will be held on December 16.

In the prior edition of the tournament, India narrowly missed securing the bronze medal, finishing fourth and this time they will aim to go all the way. The squad encompasses a talented array of players, including goalkeepers Mohith H S and Ranvijay Singh Yadav. Defenders Shardanand Tiwari, Amandeep Lakra, Rohit, Sunil JoJo, and Amir Ali have all earned their spots. The midfield is fortified by the presence of Vishnukant Singh, Poovanna C B, Rajinder Singh, Amandeep, and Aditya Singh.

The forward line showcases the skills and talents of Uttam Singh, Aditya Lalage, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Sudeep Chirmako, and Boby Singh Dhami. Additionally, defender Sukhvinder and midfielder Sunit Lakra have been named as replacement players for this prestigious event. Speaking about the team selection, junior team coach CR Kumar, said, "As reigning Asian champions, the prospect of showcasing our skills on the global stage fills us with immense excitement. Our track record in previous Junior Men's tournaments, yielding positive results, has instilled confidence in our abilities to compete at a higher level".

"This time, we present a well-rounded, formidable squad, marking a significant shift in our approach towards the Junior World Cup. Moreover, we draw inspiration from the legacy created by the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning team and aspire to meet the expectations it has set. To aid us in this endeavour, we are fortunate to have a bunch of seasoned players who were part of the last Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar. They will shoulder leadership roles and mentor their teammates. Our ultimate priority is to clinch victory in the Junior World Cup, and we are committed to taking measured steps toward achieving this goal,” he added.