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11 August 2015, New Delhi: Among the most successful teams in the Hockey India League (HIL), Jaypee Punjab Warriors will be aiming to clinch the prestigious title in the 2016 HIL backing on the experience of its best players in the team for the upcoming seasons. The two-time finalist have retained Australian trio – Christopher Ciriello, Mark Knowles and Jacob Whetton – and India’s experienced forward player SV Sunil along with young talents Satbir Singh and Varun Kumar for the fourth and fifth seasons of the Hockey India League.

Australia’s legendary drag flicker Ciriello is among the core group of players who have been with the team since the first season. The penalty corner specialist scored three goals in the first season and two in the second season. Ciriello displayed his best performance in the HIL 2015 where he scored four goals through penalty corners, which helped his team to reach the final of the League. His fellow countrymen Mark Knowles is a key member of the defence, who keeps the defence-line intact. He scored three goals in the 2014 HIL and one goal in 2015 HIL.

Among the Indian players, SV Sunil is a regular member of the team and has improved a lot season by season. The presence of Sunil will solidify the forward line and help Jaypee Punjab Warriors to remain an attacking team. The young guns Satbir Singh and Varun Kumar will again get the opportunity to play with the world’s best players and show their skills.

In the last three seasons, Jaypee Punjab Warriors played with the worlds best players, who include Sandeep Singh, Australia’s Jamie Dwyer, Kieran Govers and Simon Orchard along with Jaap Stockmann (The Netherlands) and Lucas Ray (Argentina). With the top-line players of the world available for the Hockey India League, Jaypee Punjab Warriors were able to reach the final of the HIL 2014 and 2015, though lost both the final with a very close margin.

Speaking on their retained players, Jaypee Punjab Warriors’ Coach & Manager Mr. Jagbir Singh stated, “We are very proud to have the players in the last season retained and with their sheer passion for the sport, we achieved a lot in the Hockey India League. We are confident most of the players will remain Warriors at heart through-out their professional careers. The players, which we have retained for the next two seasons, belong to the core group of the team and their experience is invaluable to us. We will build a new team around them and their presence will help the new players to adjust with our style of game. I would also like to thank Hockey India for the esteemed hockey league, which has been getting more competitive year by year. Everyone can expect a good performance from the Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the upcoming season.”

Speaking on Jaypee Punjab Warriors’ retaining decision, SV Sunil said, “I am happy to be part of this wonderful team and very motivated as they have retained me. This shows their faith in my abilities and skills. I am glad to know that Christopher Ciriello, Mark Knowles and Jacob Whetton will remain with the team as their contributions to the team are immense. Having Satbir and Varun in the team will help the team’s core strategy of attacking game. I am expecting a good result in the HIL 2016 and we will try again to clinch the title this coming year.”