Hockey India today announced a 20-member Indian Senior Men Team for the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup International Hockey Tournament 2025, scheduled to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from 23 to 30 November 2025. Three players from Odisha have been included in the Indian team. They are: Amit Rohidas, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Shilanand Lakra.

Sanjay has been named as the captain of the squad for the prestigious invitational event. India will open their campaign against Korea on November 23, followed by Belgium on November 24. The Men in Blue will then face hosts Malaysia on November 26 and New Zealand on November 27, before concluding their league stage against Canada on November 29.

The tournament will be played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams qualifying for the Final on November 30. India last captured the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title in 2010 and finished as runners-up in 2019. Overall, India has bagged a total of 15 medals in this prestigious tournament since its inception in 1983. The 15 medals include five gold (1985, 1991, 1995, 2009, 2010), three silver (2008, 2016, 2019) and seven bronze (1983, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2017).

INDIAN MENS HOCKEY SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Pawan, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar. Defenders: Chandura Boby, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Yashdeep Siwach, Sanjay (Captain), Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas. Mid-fielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Ravichandra Singh Moirangthem, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen. Forwards: Sukhjeet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh, Abhishek. Head Coach: Craig Fulton.
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PHOTO: Odisha and India trio of (L-R) Amit Rohidas, Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Shilanand Lakra pose after getting selected for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025.