NAGPUR’S talented forward Sarthak Wankhede has been named captain of Maharashtra hockey team which will take part in the 16th Hockey India Junior Men’sNational Championship. The championship is going to be held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, from July 28 to August 8, 2026. Akola’s prolific striker Suraj Shukla has been named vicecaptainof the 18-member squad announced by Krishna Prakash, IPS,AdditionalDirectorGeneral of Police,MaharashtraPolice, and President, Hockey Maharashtra. The squad was finalised after an intensiveselection process that began with 34 probables attendingapreparatorycamp at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium, Pimpri.The group was first trimmed to25beforethe final 18 players were selected. Speakingafterannouncing the squad,KrishnaPrakashsaid,“We haveselected abalanced squad that combines skill, fitness and fightingspirit.I amconfident the boys will play fearless hockey andmake Maharashtra proud at the Junior National Championship."

 

Manoj Bhore, Associate VicePresident, Hockey India and Senior Vice-President, Hockey Maharashtra, who was present during the teamannouncement, said,“Thepreparationcamphas been extremely productiveand everyplayer has worked hard to earnhis place in the squad.” The squad: Goalkeepers: Vedant Rahate (Mumbai Suburb), Rushikesh Girase (Pune); Defenders: Laxman Matkar (Nanded); Defenders/Midfielders: Navjot Singh (Pune), Kevin Wala (Mumbai Suburb), Aditya Walmiki (MumbaiCity),Mitansh Rane (Mumbai Suburb); Midfielders: Ashay Bhoyar (Mumbai City), SwayamGangurde (Mumbai City), Shraddhesh Khamkar (Mumbai City); Midfielders/Forwards: Sidhant Patil (Kolhapur), Rajwardhan Patil (Sangli); Forwards: Sarthak Wankhede (Captain; Nagpur), SurajShukla (VC, Akola), Jordan Desmond (HPC),KrishnaRathod(Jalgaon), Soham Kashid (Kolhapur), Harshavardhan Khune (Pune), Stand-bys: Neeraj Landge (Pune), Afan Mulla (Pune), OmkarJadhav (Pune), Chinmay Manjre(Thane).