Araijeet to lead promising squad at Four Nations in Berlin

In a strategic move to fine-tune preparations for the upcoming FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup, Hockey India has announced a 20-member junior men’s squad for the Four Nations Tournament in Berlin, Germany, scheduled from June 21 to 25. The competition will see India take on heavyweights Spain, Australia, and hosts Germany in a high-intensity round-robin format. As per the schedule, each team will face off against the other three during the Pool stage. The top two sides will then contest the final, while the remaining teams will play a classification match for third place.

The Berlin event is seen as a vital preparatory platform ahead of the Junior World Cup, which India will host from November 28 to December 10 across Chennai and Madurai. The squad selection signals a blend of youth and leadership, headlined by striker Araijeet Singh Hundal as Captain and experienced defender Amir Ali as Vice-Captain. The Indian forward line features pace and firepower in Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ajeet Yadav, and the skipper himself. The midfield brings versatility with names like Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, and Thounaojam Ingalemba Luwang, all known for swift ball movement and tactical control.

India’s defensive core will be anchored by Amir Ali alongside Shardanand Tiwari, Ravneet Singh, Talem Priyobarta and others. Goalkeepers Bikramjit Singh and Vivek Lakra will guard the posts, backed up by Adarsh G, named among the four standbys along with Prasant Barla, Chandan Yadav, and Mohd. Konain Dad. Coach PR Sreejesh emphasised the importance of the tour, saying, “This tournament is a key checkpoint in our World Cup journey.