Ranchi Rays gear up for 2016 Hockey India League

Ranchi Rays(In Yellow) in action

Two-time Hockey India League champions Ranchi Rays will begin their preparations for the 2016 Hockey India League with their training camp in New Delhi from January 10. The Ranchi franchise, who had won the 2013 and 2015 editions, decided to have their camp in New Delhi and not in their hometown Ranchi so as to avoid excess travelling on the eve of the tournament.

“Having a camp in New Delhi suits us as we can avoid unnecessary travelling fatigue. If we had a camp in Ranchi, we would have had to come to New Delhi and then proceed to Lucknow for our first game on January 19. With fog an issue during January (it often results in delays) it makes sense for us to have our camp in New Delhi,” says Ranchi Rays coach Harendra Singh.

Harendra, who is also the Indian junior men’s team camp, intimated that foreign players of Ranchi Rays will not be at the camp from day one on January 10. It may be worth recalling that the Ranchi franchise had retained three of their key foreign players for the next two seasons – Great Britain duo of Ashley Jackson and Barry Middleton and Australia’s Fergus Kavanagh. “All our foreign players are expected to be here for the camp by January 13.

The camp will run till January 17 and we go to Lucknow the next day.” Ranchi Rays have a fairly strong unit. They retained three Indian players – Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra and Kothajit Singh. The Ranchi franchise has bought former start drag-flicker Sandeep Singh for $81,000. Besides Sandeep, the franchise has in its ranks talented youngsters like goalkeeper Akash Chikte, Imran Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Sumit Kumar.

The Rays also have out of favour Indian forward Sarvanjit Singh and talented Mohd Amir Khan. The team also have five Australians – Tyler Lovell, Flynn Ogilvie, Daniel Beale, Timothy Deavin and Trent Mitton. “We hope to do well and win the HIL crown for the third time,” Harendra signs off.