The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) today retained seasoned Dilip Tirkey as captain of the 18-member Indian team for the prestigious Champions Trophy starting from December 10 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium in Chennai.
The selectors brought in Tamil Nadu's forward V Raja as the only new face in the senior team for the first time following his good performance in the Junior World Cup and the Dutch league.
IHF secretary K Jyothikumaran, who announced the team at a press conference in the spruced up media room at the stadium in the presence of two of the selectors, former Olympians and captains, B P Govinda and Gurbux Singh Sodhi and goalkeeper coach Charles Corneleus said the selection was based on the trials conducted over two days at the end of the first phase of the preparatory camp.
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