The winner of the Japan Asian Games will get an automatic berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Ace drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh has been given the responsibility to lead the national men’s hockey team at the Japan Asian Games starting September 19. The Hockey India, the national governing body for hockey in the country announced the squad on Wednesday.

In the previous edition of the Asian Games in China, India won the title and got automatic qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The winner of the Japan Asian Games will also get an automatic berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games in the USA.

“The Indian squad selected for the Asian Games is very experienced. We look forward to the challenge of playing in Japan where the winner qualifies for the LA 2028 Olympics,” said Chief National men’s hockey coach Craig Fulton.

The defending champions have been clubbed in Pool A and will face minnows Indonesia in their opening match on September 20. Japan, Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are other teams in Pool A.

All the matches will be played at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara.

Indian squad: Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera, Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach. Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad. Forwards: Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek.

EOM