BS News Agency: The senior players of the Indian hockey team are shocked by the news circulating in the market. Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Neelkanth Sharma will play the last international match of the Indian hockey team in the Championship Trophy to be held on the country's soil from October 27 to November 5. This news has been spread by the officials of Hockey India. The members of the team that recently won the gold medal at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games have expressed their dissatisfaction with this. They said that they did not tell anyone about such a decision. On the contrary, they want to continue playing even after the Championship Trophy. By winning the Asian Games, India has directly secured a place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Naturally, they want to take the field in the Indian jersey at that Olympics. So they are surprised that the news about their retirement has been published.
One of the four hockey stars has already told a news agency, "We came to know about this news through the media. But Hockey India has not told us anything about it, nor has it discussed anything. After winning the gold in the recent Asian Games, we definitely expect to be respected." Another player's reaction was that they were busy organizing the reception for winning the gold in the Asian Games. But such news has upset them. The reception is now on hold. He said, "After the news that the four of us are quitting the country's jersey after the Champions Trophy, I am getting a lot of calls. Everyone is asking me if I am retiring? I am really shocked. Because I have not told anyone or anywhere about any such decision. Rather, I am preparing to work hard with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in mind. So why did the talk of retirement come up? I have reached this point with a lot of hard work and sacrifice. After winning gold at the Asian Games, I am hopeful of playing well in Los Angeles to win a hat-trick of medals.
Goalkeeper Krishnan Bahadur Thakur has returned to the 18-member Champions Trophy squad. In addition, two new hockey players, defender Amandeep Lakra and midfielder Aditya Arjun Lalaj, have a chance to cement their place in the senior team.
The tournament will start at the Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. All the opening and league matches will be held here. It will continue from October 27 to November 2. After that, the game will move to Mohali. The semi-finals will be held on November 4. The next day, i.e. on November 5, the final and bronze medal match will be held at the Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium. Indian hockey team coach Craig Fulton is optimistic and confident that India will win the cup with the support of Punjab's hockey fans at home.
Pakistan is not participating because the game is played on Indian soil. Bangladesh has got the opportunity to play in its place. Bangladesh will face India in the first match on October 27. India will face China on October 29. India will face Japan on October 30. India will play the last match of the group league against Malaysia on November 1.