India is gearing up for hockey glory on the fast-paced field of the FIH Hockey5s World Cup, with both the Mens and Womens teams officially announced by Hockey India on Sunday. The tournament will be held in Muscat, Oman, with the Womens competition kicking off on January 24 and concluding on January 27, followed by the Mens event from January 28 to January 31.The Squad for Indian Mens and Womens Team for The FIH Hockey5s World Cup Muscat, Oman 2024 are here with Simranjeet leading the Mens team and Rajani Etimarpu leading the Womens team.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/TsWo1FmMi4— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 31, 2023Experienced leadership guides womens teamThe Indian Womens Team will be led by goalkeeper Rajni Etimarpu, with Mahima Chaudhary providing defensive support as Vice Captain. Young talent fills the squad, with Bansari Solanki as the second goalkeeper and promising defenders Akshata Abaso Dhekale and Jyoti Chhatri ready to make their mark. Mariana Kujur and Mumtaz Khan will anchor the midfield, while Ajmina Kujur, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, and Deepika Soreng form a dynamic forward line.Drawn in Pool C alongside Namibia, Poland, and the United States, the Womens team will face a tough challenge from fellow teams in the poll. Pool A has powerhouses like Fiji, Malaysia, Netherlands, and hosts Oman, while Pool B features Australia, South Africa, Ukraine, and Zambia. Pool D completes the group stage with New Zealand, Paraguay, Thailand, and Uruguay.The team comprises young players with enough international experience and understanding of the challenges of playing a prestigious event such as the Hockey 5s World Cup, stated Coach Soundarya, expressing confidence in the teams preparation and optimism for the tournament.Olympic medalist to lead mens chargeThe Indian Mens Team will enter into the field under the leadership of the experienced and prolific scorer Simranjeet Singh, an Olympic bronze medalist. Defender Mandeep Mor, another veteran will be the backbone of the team in the multi-national event. Suraj Karkera and Prashant Kumar Chauhan will battle for the gloves, while Mandeep Mor will be joined by Manjeet in forming a formidable defensive wall. The Midfield position will be held by Mohd Raheel Mouseen and Maninder Singh will drive the team forward, and the attacking line boasts the explosive talent of Pawan Rajbhar, Gurjot Singh, and Uttam Singh alongside Captain Simranjeet.With the goal of reaching the podium, Coach Sardar Singh emphasizes the teams balanced composition and said, We have chosen a very balanced team with youth and experience for this exciting format of hockey. Several players in this squad already have experience playing this format and are eager to perform well. We have worked hard for this tournament and look forward to finishing on the podium.Grouped in Pool B with Egypt, Jamaica, and Switzerland, the Mens team faces a tough path to the knockout rounds. Pool A includes contenders like the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Poland, while Pool C features Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago. Pool D rounds out the competition with Fiji, Malaysia, Oman, and the United States.
