Hockey India on Monday announced the 20-member India A Men’s Hockey Team that will embark on a significant tour of Europe from July 8 to 20. The squad, led by seasoned defender Jarmanpreet Singh as captain and with Araijeet Singh Hundal as vice-captain, will play eight matches against formidable European opponents in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.This tour is part of Hockey India’s vision to build a robust talent pipeline and provide international exposure to emerging players. Alongside established names like Nilam Sanjeep Xess and S Karthi, the squad also includes several youngsters aiming to cement their places in the senior national team.
Other Key Developments on July 1
Chess: India’s teenage prodigies continued to impress at the FIDE World Cup Under-8 to Under-12 in Batumi, Georgia. After six rounds, several Indian players remained in contention for medals, demonstrating the country’s growing depth in age-group chess.
Squash: The Telangana Open Squash Championships concluded with Siraj and Deepika clinching the men’s and women’s titles respectively. Both players displayed consistent form throughout the tournament to emerge deserving champions.
Badminton: Young shuttler Ayush Shetty, fresh off his maiden BWF World Tour title at the US Open, earned praise from coaches and senior players. Shetty is now seen as a bright prospect to break into the world’s top 10 rankings in the coming seasons.
Athletics: India’s javelin ace Anderson Peters, who was slated to headline the Neeraj Chopra Classic, announced his withdrawal citing injury concerns. His absence is a setback to fans hoping to see a high-voltage contest with Chopra on home soil.
Wushu: Thirteen athletes from Arunachal Pradesh were selected to represent the state in the 24th Junior National Wushu Championship, underlining the steady rise of martial arts talent from the northeast.With the Paris Olympics looming, these events and selections highlight the crucial phase Indian athletes are entering. From building bench strength in hockey to nurturing young talent in badminton and combat sports, July has begun with an encouraging wave of activity across disciplines.
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