MOHALI: Roundglass Hockey Academy (RGHA) forwards Gurjot Singh and Arshdeep Singh and goalkeeper Princedeep Singh were named in the 20-member Junior Indian team for the upcoming Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 which is scheduled to be held in Muscat, Oman from November 26th to December 4th. Gurjot Singh who made his debut for the senior side at the Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China along with Arshdeep were part of the Under 21 side that finished third in the recently concluded Sultan of Johor Cup. Princedeep has also been a regular in the junior setup of the national side.
The 20-year-old Gurjot hails from Nakoder in Jalandhar and has been training at RGHA since July 2021 and 19-year-old Arshdeep Singh, from Amritsar, has been with the academy since 2021. He was part of the junior team that toured Europe in May. Pathankot born Princedeep, joined the academy in 2022 and the 20-year old will look to impress between the posts.
Sharing his thoughts on the selection, Dronacharya award winner, Olympic Gold medalist and Technical Lead of Roundglass Punjab Hockey Academy, Rajinder Singh said, “In the last Junior Asia Cup only one player from RoundGlass Hockey Academy was part of the Indian squad, and this year, the number has increased to three, a testament to the growth and success of our program. The Junior Asian Cup is not only a prestigious event but also serves as a qualifying tournament for the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025. This remarkable achievement highlights the dedication and hard work of our players, the supported and guidance of our coaching staff and support team.”
India has been drawn in Group A along with Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea and Thailand while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Pakistan and hosts Oman. India qualifies for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup by virtue of being the hosts, the team under Coach PR Sreejesh will be vying to carry on their momentum from their recent success at the Sultan of Johor Cup.