Indian midfielder Hardik Singh has been appointed as the captain of the UP Rudras for the upcoming season of the Hockey India League (HIL). The announcement was made by team owner Mr. Madhavkrishna Singhania, who hailed Hardik as a “true leader on and off the pitch.”
Hardik, a vital cog in India’s hockey setup, has already achieved remarkable success, including two Olympic bronze medals. His leadership qualities and experience have made him the ideal choice to guide the Rudras in their HIL campaign.
Head coach Paul Van Ass expressed his faith in Hardik, saying, “His experience and composure will be crucial for the team in high-pressure situations.”
The 24-year-old skipper shared his excitement about the new role, particularly the significance of representing a team based in the hometown of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. “Representing and captaining a team based out of the legendary Dhyanchand Ji’s hometown is everything a player can ask for,” Hardik said.
The 2024 HIL season kicks off in Rourkela with Phase 1 scheduled from December 28 to January 18. During this phase, all eight teams will play against each other once.
From January 19, the tournament moves into Phase 2, where the teams will be divided into two pools:
Teams will compete within their pools, with the top four teams progressing to the semifinals on January 31. The final will be played on February 2, crowning the champions of this prestigious league.
Defenders: Lars Balk, Kane Russell, Surender Kumar, Rafael Vilallonga, Priyobarta Talem, Sunil Jojo, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Prashant Barla
Midfielders: Hardik Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Floris Wortelboer, James Albery, Manmeet Singh, Jobanpreet Singh
Forwards: Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Tanguy Cosyns, Gurjot Singh, Mohd. Zaid Khan, Sudeep Chirmako, Sam Ward
Goalkeepers: Prashant Kumar Chauhan, James Mazarelo, Pankaj Kumar Rajak
Liverpool captain and defender Virgil van Dijk reckons the media disrespected Manchester United before they… Read More
Phoenix Suns talisman Bradley Beal top-scored with 25 points while coming off the bench for… Read More
Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic is hopeful of winning one more Australian Open title before… Read More
As the dust settles on India’s torrid time in Australia, where they surrendered the Border-Gavaskar… Read More
Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis opened up on a 0-1 loss against Kerala Blasters… Read More
Kerala Blasters FC interim head coach Purushothaman showered praise on his team’s collective effort after… Read More