After an impressive debut season where Soorma finished third, the club has chosen to keep its core intact, retaining the players who formed its backbone
Veteran forward Arjun Halappa has been appointed captain of the Indian team for next month's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia even as drag-flicker Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh failed to find a place in the list of 45 probables.
Former captain Rajpal Singh got the axe as Hockey India named an 18-member squad for the London Olympics qualifier, to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in Delhi, from February 18 to 26. Experienced midfielders Vikram Pillay and Arjun Halappa also failed to find a place in the squad, which will be led by goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.
India's senior-most player Arjun Halappa says the upcoming Azlan Shah hockey tournament provides the youngsters in the team a chance to prove themselves.
The Mission Olympic Cell is also considering higher incentives for retired Olympians and world-class players who want to take up coaching, in an effort to retain top talent within India.
Defending champions India quelled a late Korean surge to eke out a narrow 3-2 victory and stretch their unbeaten run in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament on Sunday.
India hockey coach Michael Nobbs defended the decision to drop a few senior players from the squad for next month's Olympic qualifier, insisting that form and fitness were the only criteria for selection.
Forward Rajpal Singh will lead a young 18-member India squad in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Ordos, China, from September 3 to 11.
Arjun Halappa and Dhananjay Mahadik sounded the board as India beat Belgium 2-0 in the final Test to clinch the three-match hockey series 2-1 in Braxgata on Friday.
The cloud of doubt that threatened to disrupt the million-dollar World Series Hockey (WSH) has been cleared after warring factions Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) entered into an interim arrangement on Monday.
150 Indian players, including top stars from the current national team have signed on and received advanced payments to play in World Series Hockey (WSH).
Hockey India's disciplinary panel chairman Pargat Singh on Friday demanded a stern action against the country's top five players, who left the ongoing national camp in Bangalore without permission to attend a function organized by the rival Indian Hockey Federation.
Around 176 players from India and across the world will participate in the World Series Hockey tournament, from December 15 to January 22, 2012.
India discard Arjun Halappa led from the front in brilliant fashion, scoring a brace of goals and assisting in a third, as cellar outfit Karnataka Lions whipped Mumbai Marines 4-2 in a fast-paced World Series Hockey clash at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium in Mumbai on Friday night.
Dragflicker Sandeep Singh made a return, while injured striker Shivendra Singh and midfielder Arjun Halappa have been rested from a 22-member Indian hockey squad for a tour of Europe, starting next month.
The PHL Trophy, made from Swarovski Crystals, was unveiled in Hyderabd on Tuesday.
India regained the Azlan Shah hockey title after a 13-year gap, defeating hosts Malaysia 3-1 in the finals of the five-nation tournament in Ipoh on Sunday.
Skipper Sandeep Singh pumped in three penalty corners as India whitewashed the Queensland-New South Wales State combine 7-0 in the second outing of their Australia-New Zealand tour at the State Hockey Centre in Brisbane on Sunday.
Goals by Arjun Halappa and Deepak Thakur helped India beat New Zealand 2-0 in the men's Olympic hockey qualifying tournament.
Banglore Lions defeated local favourites Chandigarh Dynamos 2-1.
Drag-flicker Len Aiyappa was also included in the 16-man squad for the Afro-Asian Games.
Sandeep Singh 's brace from penalty-corners gave Airlines a 2-0 victory over Punjab and Sing Bank in the final
They were made to fight by India Juniors for a 1-0 victory in the Shastri hockey tournament.
The Indian drag-flicker scored twice in a 5-4 victory over Northern Cavaliers Pakistan's Super Hockey League.
Railways beat Indian Airlines 3-2, while Punjab blanked Uttar Pradesh 6-0 at the 61st Senior National Hockey Super League.
The Indian Hockey Federation announced an experimental side for the January 8-18 tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
The former beat Air India while the latter got the better of Bharat Petroleum in the semi-finals of the Shastri hockey tournament.\n\n
A resurgent India blanked Malaysia 3-0 on Wednesday to put their Azlan Shah Cup campaign back on track and stay on course for a place in the final of the five-nation hockey tournament, in Ipoh, Malaysia. Malaysia lead the table with six points while India and New Zealand are in second and third place respectively, both teams having four points each but India a superior goal difference.
A 3-2 victory enabled India win the second and final Test.
India registered a comfortable 4-0 win in their last league match of the four-nation hockey tournament.
Goals by Arjun Halappa and Sandeep Singh gave India a 2-1 victory over Japan in the four-nation hockey tournament.
A 3-1 victory over Pakistan in the final gave India the gold medal.
The list of core probables of the senior men's hockey team has been pruned down to 33 from 48 after a three-day selection trials held at the SAI Centre, Bangalore from July 25-27.
Plagued by injuries, India named a young 18-member squad to be led by the inspirational Sardar Singh in the crucial Asia Cup hockey tournament scheduled from August 24 to September 1 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Skipper Sardara Singh has been rested for third Asian Champions Trophy. In his absence, Hockey India said, midfielder Manpreet Singh will lead India's 18-member squad for the tournament in Kakamigahara, Japan, from November 2-10.
Former India coach Anil Kumble is in the running for the Coach of the Year award in the inaugural edition of the Indian Sports Honours, instituted by the RP-SG Group in association with the foundation of skipper Virat Kohli.
Title holders Delhi Waveriders register their first victory of the season, following a 3-1 win over debutants Dabang Mumbai in a league match of the third edition of the Hero Hockey India League.
Striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi failed to make the cut as Hockey India announced an 18-member squad, led by Sadar Singh, for the eight-nation Hero men's Champions Trophy, in Bhubaneswar, from December 6-14. Lalit Upadhyay, who was capped nine times earlier, has been drafted in place of Chandi in the squad, named by Hockey India selectors after trials at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi on November 18.
Jaypee Punjab Warriors defeated Delhi Waveriders 3-1 to extend their winning streak in the second season of the Hero Hockey India League at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Ranchi Rhinos' have retained most of the players.
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