Tamil Nadu's V Raja will lead India in the seventh Junior Challenge Open Under-21 hockey tournament, to be held in Gniezno (Poland) from May 29 to June 4.

Clarence Lobo has been appointed chief coach of the 18-member team, and former international Mohammad Riaz his assistant.

Lobo described the squad as a balanced one.

"The team is fit and we will do well," said Lobo, adding that the players will leave for Poland on Friday.

The tournament will be played in round-robin league format.

The other teams in the fray are Holland, Poland, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China and South Korea

The team was selected after a 38 probables' camp at the National Stadium in Delhi, which was later pruned to 26.

Among those picked, Raja, Raghunath and Sardar Singh had played for India previously.

Sreejesh, Vickram Kanth, Senthil, Ajitesh Roy and also Raja played in the Junior World Cup last year in Holland, where the team finished fourth.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Sreejesh, Gurpreet Singh

Defenders: Raghunath, Kuldeep Bhadouria, Baljinder Singh

Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Vickram Kanth, Senthil, Gurvinder Singh.

Forwards: Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Bikas Toppo, Ajitesh Roy, V. Raja, Joga Singh, Roshan Minz, Pramod Kumar.

Chief coach: Clarence Lobo

Coach: Mohd. Riaz

Manager: Pratap Satpathy.