Mandi/Shimla: Mandi's Paddal Ground and Rising Star Football Academy recently hosted a five-day football camp, marking the final preparations for the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) football team ahead of their participation in the Inter-University Championship.

The 20-member team will leave today for Phagwara, Punjab, where the championship is being hosted by J.N.A. University from December 14 to 21. HPU will face their first knockout match against S.S. Jina University, Almora, on December 15.

The team comprises talented players selected from various colleges across the state, led by captain Dheeraj Datta.

The squad includes Harshal, Chandrashekhar, Shameer Khan, Harsh Kumar, Ajay, Avneet, Shyam Mahajan, Sahil Sharma, Eklavya Sindhi, Rohit, Akshit, Rajat, Sahil Shekhar, Ayush, Manas, Karan, Shashank Thakur, Abhay, and Aditya Sindhi.

Dr. Gaurav Bhardwaj will serve as the team coach.

Speaking about the preparations, Dr. Bhardwaj expressed confidence in the balanced team lineup, saying he is optimistic about their performance in the tournament.

The team received warm wishes from Director of Sports Prof. Sanjay Sharma, Principal of the College Smt. Surina Sharma, Dr. Sunil Sen, and other faculty members and players.

The team is expected to make a strong impact in the championship, showcasing their skills and determination.