Updated On: 29 August, 2024 06:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Ashwin Ferro
The players assembled for the national camp in Bangalore on Sunday after which Hockey India named an 18-man squad for the ACT on Wednesday. There are quite a few changes to the team that won the bronze in Paris

India players celebrate after winning bronze in Paris. Pic/AFP
The Indian hockey team have been dominant on the Asian circuit in the recent past. At last year’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Chennai (August 3-12) they scored 29 goals in seven matches en route to a gold medal performance. Around a month later, at the Asian Games in Hangzhou (September 24 to October 6), they were even more dominant, scoring 68 goals in seven matches during another virtually unchallenged gold medal show.
The fact that there is no other Asian team besides India (No. 5) in the top 10 FIH world rankings shows the decline in the quality of play in this continent. In this scenario, it should be a cakewalk for Harmanpreet Singh & Co as they head to Hulunbuir, China, to defend their ACT title (September 8-17).