SV Sunil, 27, is another important member of India’s Rio-bound men’s hockey squad. With 166 international camps, and international experience of close to ten years, Sunil will be the player to watch out for at the halfback position. His entry into the national team was on a winning note as India ended up lifting the 2007 Asia Cup, Chennai. Among his other highlights, he has a Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2008 silver medal. Fit and raring to go for his second Olympics, after a forgettable outing in London, Sunil would like to make most of this opportunity.
He has a lot of fire in his belly and his pace and dribbling abilities with the stick in hand have drawn praise from all quarters. Even in the 2016 Champions Trophy campaign, he took control of the forward line in absence of Sardar Singh, and didn’t disappoint.
Event: Men’s hockey
Event Schedule: India commence their campaign against Ireland on August 6, play Germany on August 8, Argentina on August 9, Netherlands on August 11 before concluding the group stage against Canada on August 12
Qualification: India secured the berth after Asian Games gold
Record: India have won 11 Olympic medals, including eight golds. The last medal came way back at the Moscow Games in 1980
Squad: PR Sreejesh (captain and GK), Harmanpreet Singh (defender), Rupinder Pal Singh (defender), Kothajit Singh (defender), Surendar Kumar (defender), Manpreet Singh (midfielder), Sardar Singh (midfielder), VR Raghunath (defender), SK Uthappa (midfielder), Danish Mujtaba (midfielder), Devender Walmiki (midfielder), SV Sunil (forward and vice-captain), Akashdeep Singh (forward), Chinglensana Singh (midfielder), Ramandeep Singh (forward), Nikkin Thimmaiah (forward)
Coach: Roelant Oltmans
[Source:- The Indian Express]
