Compiled by – ARUN ARNAW

Indian Hockey team has reached Kuala Lumpur with the hopes of repeating the magical performance of 1975 World Cup at the same venue. India is drawn in a comparatively easier Pool B along with Australia, S Korea, England, Malaysia, Japan, Poland and Cuba. The Indian team is a bunch of experienced and young but immensely talented players. If India plays true to its potential and luck favours a little in key-battles, Semi Final berth doesn’t look a distant dream for them.

The following are the thumb-nail sketches of the Indian players :- 

Jude Menezes: born- August 5, 1971; Goal Keeper, one of the best goal keepers India has seen in recent years, has played an important role in India’s current upswing in Hockey world.

debut: in Colorodo Cup 1998,

represented India in-

1998: Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok Asian Games, Utrecht World Cup

1999: Asia Cup Kualalumpur,

2000: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Sydney Olympic Games

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka (saved two penalty strokes in the final against Pakistan and paved the way for India’s victory), World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Devesh Chauhan: born- November 12, 1980; Goal Keeper,

represented India in-

2000: Jr Asia Cup, Sydney Olympic Games,

2001: Test series Vs Germany, and Vs New Zealand, World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Junior World Cup at Hobart

Dilip Tirkey: born- November 25, 1977; Defender, India’s most reliable and dependable full back in the mould of Michael Kindo and Manohar Topno. He rarely commits a mistake, superbly fit, determined and very good tackler of the ball,

debut: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup 1995,

represented India in-

1995: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup 1995,

1996: Olympic qualifiers in Spain, Pre Olympic Atlanta, Testa Vs England and Germany, Atlanta Olympics, Champions Trophy Chennai,

1997: Jr World Cup at Milton Keynes, Test series Vs Germany,

1998: Colorodo Cup, Test series Vs Pakistan (chosen player of the series for his brilliant performance), Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok Asian Games, Utrecht World Cup

1999: Test series Vs Pakistan, Asia Cup Kualalumpur,

2000: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Sydney Olympics;

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka, World Cup qualifier Edinburgh,

Lazarus Barla: born- April 4, 1979; Defender, a well organized player, has good tackling prowess and ability of quick recovery,

debut: Vs Germany test series 1998,

played for India in-

1997:  Jr World Cup at Milton Keynes

1998:  Test series Vs Pakistan, Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok Asian Games, Utrecht World Cup

1999: South Africa tour, Test series Vs Pakistan

2000: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Sydney Olympics;

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka, World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Jugraj Singh: aged 18 years, Defender, younger brother of former Indian women captain Rajbir Rai, Young and most promising player, he will be India’s answer to the drag-flick converters of the penalty corners at Kuala Lumpur, a very powerful hitter and has been noticeably effective with drag-flick from penalty corners in Junior World Cup at Hobart.

debut:

represented India in-

2001: Junior World Cup at Hobart (scored goals), Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Kanwalpreet Singh: young and talented defender, find of the junior World Cup,

represented India in-

2001: Junior World Cup at Hobart, Test series Vs New Zealand, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Baljit Singh Saini: born- August 12, 1976; Midfielder, recovered from malaria in time, an experienced and skillful midfielder, sound in defence and capable of providing assistance in attack,

debut- Indira Gandhi Gold Cup 1995

represented India in –

1995: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup ; SAF Games, Chennai; Olympic qualifiers in Spain;
1996: Test series Vs England and Germany, Pre Olympics Atlanta, Atlanta Olympic Games, India-Australia test series, Azlan Shah Cup Ipoh, Four Nation Tournament, Chennai
1997: Captained the Indian Junior team to the Milton Keynes Jr World Cup;
1998: Colorado Cup in Australia; Pre Asian Games in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur Common Wealth Games, Bangkok  Asian Games, Utrecht World Cup,
1999: Asia Cup Kuala Lumpur, Test series Vs Pak, Test series Vs SA., 4-Nation tournament in Australia, 

2000: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Sydney Olympics;

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Sukhbir Singh Gill: born- December 14, 1975, Midfielder

represented India in-

1996: Test series Vs Australia, Azlan Shah Cup Ipoh,

1997: Test series Vs Germany, Hamburg 4-Nation tournament;

1998: Test series Vs Pakistan, Colorodo Cup,

1999: Test series Vs Pakistan, Asia Cup Kuala Lumpur,

2000: Sydney Olympics; Sultan Azlan Shah Cup,

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Ignace Tirkey: Midfielder, a player of high potential, may prove find of the tournament.

Represented India in-

2001: Junior World Cup at Hobart,

S Thirumalvalvan: born- November 27, 1970, Midfielder,

Debut: Vs Poland in 1997 Test series

Represented India in-

1997: Test series Vs Poland, Hamburg 4-Nation tournament; Test series Vs Germany,

1998: Pre Asian Games in Bangkok, Bangkok  Asian Games, Utrecht World Cup, Kuala Lumpur Common Wealth Games, Test Series Vs Pakistan; Colorado Cup in Australia;

1999: S Africa tour, Test Series Vs Pakistan,

2000: Sydney Olympics; Sultan Azlan Shah Cup,

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka, World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur

Arjun Halappa: aged 20years; Mid Fielder; an innovative play-maker and skilful tackler of the ball, this young lad of the India Hockey has earned a good name for himself in the short span, his stick work has attracted the peoples’ attention where ever he has played,

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup, Dhaka (scored 3 goals), World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Junior World Cup at Hobart, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Baljit Singh Dhillon: born-June 18, 1973; out side left, Captain of the Team, mercurial forward, played a sterling role in India’s victories in recent times,

debut- Vs S Africa test series, 1993

represented India in –

1993: Test Series Vs S Africa (scored 6 goals); Alps Cup, Hiroshima Asia Cup;

1994: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, Australia tour, Hiroshima Asian Games;

1995: SAF Games, Chennai; Olympic qualifiers in Spain; Champions Trophy, Berlin;
1996: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, Atlanta Olympics, Test series Vs Australia, England and Germany, Azlan Shah Cup Ipoh, 4-Nation Tournament, Chennai
1997: Captained the Indian Junior team to the Milton Keynes Jr World Cup; Hamburg 4-Nation tournament; Atlanta Challenge Cup,
1998: Pre Asian Games in Bangkok, Bangkok  Asian Games, Kuala Lumpur Common Wealth Games (scored 6 goals – most for India), Colorado Cup in Australia;
1999: Captained the Indian team in Asia Cup Kuala Lumpur, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Test series Vs Pak ( scored 9 goals and declared man of the series), Test series Vs SA., Germany and Belgium;

2000: Australian Tour; Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (scored 5 goals); Sydney Olympics;

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand (scored a goal in each of the four test matches), Led Indian team to victory in Prime Minister Gold Cup, Dhaka (scored 7 goals and named player of the tournament), Captained victorious Indian team in the inaugural Champions Challenge Trophy at Kuala Lumpur,

Dhanraj Pillay: born- July 16, 1968; Center Forward; veteran of the team, stick wizard, excellent dribbler of the ball, seeing him play is an eye-pleasant experience, he will shoulder the responsibilities of creating moves and making spaces for other forwards,

debut- New Delhi Asia Cup,1989

represented India in –

1989: New Delhi Asia Cup

1990: BMW tournament; Lahore World Cup; Beijing Asian Games;

1991:

1992: Barcelona Olympics;

1993: Alps Cup, Poznan International Tournament, Test Series Vs S Africa; Hiroshima Asia Cup;

1994: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup (declared best player of the tournament, scored 7 goals), Test series Vs Holland, Vs Australia and Vs S Africa, Hiroshima Asian Games; Sydney World Cup,

1995: Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, Test series Vs Holland and Vs Spain, SAF Games, Chennai; 4-Nation in Germany, Olympic qualifiers in Spain; Champions Trophy, Berlin
1996: Atlanta Olympics, Test series Vs England, Vs Germany and Australia, Azlan Shah Cup Ipoh, 4-Nation Tournament, Chennai; Champions Trophy, Chennai
1997: Atlanta Challenge Cup, Test series Vs Germany, Hamburg 4-Nation tournament;
1998: Pre Asian Games in Bangkok, Led Indian team to victory in Bangkok  Asian Games after a gap of 32 years (scored 10 goals), Utrecht World Cup, Kuala Lumpur Common Wealth Games (Captain, scored 5 goals), Test Series Vs Germany and Pakistan; Colorado Cup in Australia;
1999: Asia Cup Kuala Lumpur, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; Test series Vs Pakistan; 2000: Australian Tour; Sydney Olympics; Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (scored 5 goals);

2001: Prime Minister Gold Cup, Dhaka ; Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Daljit Singh Dhillon: Forward, brother of Baljit Dhillon,

1998: 4-nation tournament at Hamburg (with junior team),

1999: Test series Vs Pakistan,

2000:

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka (scored crucial goal in the tie breaker against Pakistan in the final, which ensured India’s victory), World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Deepak Thakur: born- December 28, 1980, mercurial forward and striker, has been making headlines and performing excellently since Junior World Cup at Hobart,

Represented India in-

1999: Test series Vs Pakistan, S Africa tour, 4-Nation tournament in Australia,

2000: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Pre Olympic Tournament Sydney, Sydney Olympics,

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka, Junior World Cup at Hobart (scored most goals in the tournament - 10), Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Prabhjot Singh: Forward,

Represented India in-

2001: Test series Vs Germany, Vs Malaysia and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka, Junior World Cup at Hobart, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Sabu Varkey: born- January 21, 1971

debut: Vs Kenya, 1991

Represented India in-

1991: Test series Vs Kenya,

1993: Test Series Vs S Africa; Alps Cup Viena, Poznan Intercontinental Tournament, Hiroshima Asia Cup;

1994: Indira Gabdhi Gold Cup, Test series Vs Holland, Vs Australia and Vs S Africa, Hiroshima Asian Games; Sydney World Cup,

1996: Indira Gabdhi Gold Cup, Azlan Shah Cup Ipoh, Atlanta Olympics, 4-Nation in Australia,
1997: Hamburg 4-Nation tournament;
1998: Pre Asian Games in Bangkok, Bangkok  Asian Games, Utrecht World Cup, Kuala Lumpur Common Wealth Games, Test Series Vs Pakistan and Vs Germany; Colorado Cup in Australia;
 2001: Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,

Bipin Fernandes: Forward,

Represented India in-

2001: Test series Vs Germany and Vs New Zealand, Prime Minister Gold Cup Dhaka, World Cup qualifier Edinburgh, Junior World Cup at Hobart, Champions Challenge Trophy Kuala Lumpur,