FIH Hockey5s World Cup: Simranjeet to lead India men; Rajni to captain women's side
New Delhi (PTI): Simranjeet Singh and Rajni Etimarpu will lead the men's and women's sides respectively as Hockey India on Sunday named the Indian teams for the upcoming FIH Hockey5s World Cup to be held in Muscat, Oman.
While the Hockey5s Women's World Cup will be held between January 24 and 27, the men's event is slated from January 28 to January 31.
Experienced goalkeeper Rajni will have defender Mahima Chaudhary as her deputy, while Mandeep Mor will be the vice-captain of the men's team.
The women's team also comprises Bansari Solanki as the second goalkeeper, with Akshata Abaso Dhekale and Jyoti Chhatri as defenders.
Among midfielders, Mariana Kujur and Mumtaz Khan have been named while Ajmina Kujur, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal and Deepika Soreng have been named as forwards.
The Indian Women are grouped in Pool C along with Namibia, Poland and the United States.
A total of 16 teams will participate in the Hockey5s Women's World Cup which includes Fiji, Malaysia, the Netherlands and hosts Oman in Pool A, while Australia, South Africa, Ukraine and Zambia are in Pool B and Pool D features New Zealand, Paraguay, Thailand and Uruguay.
"The team comprises young players with enough international experience and understanding of the challenges of playing a prestigious event such as the Hockey 5's World Cup," coach Soundarya said in a HI release.
"We are well prepared and are upbeat ahead of the tournament."
The Indian men's team, led by Olympic bronze medallist Simranjeet, includes goalkeepers Suraj Karkera and Prashant Kumar Chauhan.
Mandeep Mor will be joined by Manjeet in defence, while midfield features Mohd Raheel Mouseen and Maninder Singh and forward-line comprises Pawan Rajbhar, Gurjot Singh and Uttam Singh along with captain Simranjeet.
Grouped in Pool B, India will play against Egypt, Jamaica and Switzerland to make the knockout rounds.
The other teams in the fray include the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan and Poland in Pool A and Pool C features Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago while Pool D includes Fiji, Malaysia, Oman and the United States.
"We have chosen a very balanced team with youth and experience for this exciting format of hockey," coach Sardar Singh said.
"Several players in this squad already have the experience of playing this format and are eager to perform well. We have worked hard for this tournament and look forward to finishing on the podium."
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Badlapur 'encounter' case: HC slams SIT for no FIR against five cops; 'very sorry state of affairs'
Mumbai, Apr 30 (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday slammed the crime branch's Special Investigation Team for not registering an FIR against five policemen for the alleged encounter killing of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde, noting it was a "very sorry state of affairs".
After the HC sternly observed that it would be constrained to initiate contempt proceedings, public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar assured the court that an FIR would be registered by the SIT by Saturday (May 3).
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale accepted Venegaonkar's assurance.
On April 7, the HC ordered the crime branch's joint commissioner Lakhami Gautam to form a special investigation team to probe the death of Shinde and register an FIR against the five policemen indicted in a magistrate's inquiry report for Shinde's death.
Last week, the high court strongly criticised the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which was initially probing the case, for not handing over the case papers to the SIT.
Pursuant to this, the CID on April 25 handed over all the papers to the SIT.
On Wednesday, when HC questioned if FIR was registered, public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar replied in the negative.
Irked by the reply, the bench said that when there was a cognizable offence made out, the police ought to have applied their mind and registered the FIR.
"There is a responsibility cast on the police. Do not let public faith in the system down. There is a dead body. It is an unnatural death. What more revelation do you want to lodge FIR?" HC questioned.
The bench said in the absence of non-compliance of its order it would be constrained to initiate contempt proceedings.
"This is pure scuttling of directives of this court. We are not satisfied. This is a very sorry state of affairs. We are now constrained to issue contempt," the bench remarked and asked the SIT to show some "dedication" and take the matter to its logical conclusion.
Shinde (24), accused of sexually assaulting two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district, was shot dead inside a police van on September 23, 2024, while being taken to Kalyan from Taloja prison for probe in another case.
The escorting police team claimed they shot him in self-defence after he snatched the gun of one of the officials and opened fire. His parents, though, alleged he was killed in a fake encounter, and filed a petition in the high court seeking an independent probe.
An inquiry report by a magistrate indicted the five policemen, stating there was substance in the claim that it was a fake encounter.
