Hockey World Cup | Hardik Singh - The shining youngster of Indian midfield

11/21/2018

Hockey India

Hockey India has opted for a mix of young and experienced players for the upcoming Hockey World Cup to be played from November 28. Hardik Singh, who had an impressive debut at the Asian Champions Trophy, has been drafted into the Indian midfield with just six international games under his belt.

For 20-year-old Hardik Singh, representing India has been the biggest dream of his young life from the very day he picked up a hockey stick at the age of five. His dream came true in India’s first game against hosts Oman at the Asian Champions Trophy last month as the young lad graduated from the junior India side to make his maiden appearance on the big stage. With the experience of only six games in one multi-national tournament, this young midfielder is all set to play his first World Cup now. His performance at the six-nation tournament was impressive enough to propel the team management to go ahead with the talented youngster in the World Cup. In an exclusive chat with SportsCafe, Hardik shared his journey and also talked about his preparations ahead of the mega event.

“The World Cup is being played in India and I am delighted to be a part of the team for this big event. I am trying to get mentally strong ahead of the tournament as it is a huge stage for me. All of us are giving 100% during the practice sessions with only a few days to go for the tournament,” Hardik told SportsCafe.

Hardik had to leave his home in Jalandhar district of Punjab at a young age of 13 and move to Mohali when he got a call from the hockey academy. After getting his initial lessons from his grandfather, it was the academy in Mohali that shaped up his career from 2011. He got a chance to don the Indian colours in 2015 as a member of the age-group teams and was named the vice-captain for U18 Asia Cup as well in Dhaka. He continued playing for his home state in Punjab and was a live-wire in the midfield during the national tournaments. He also represented the India U-23 side before getting a look in the senior team a month ago.

“In my debut tournament (Asian Champions Trophy) last month, I was able to perform well and the seniors in the team guided me. There is nothing like seniors and juniors in the team and all are treated equally by the management and the coach. I was having a good discussion with the senior players about my performance time and again during the tournament,” explained Hardik.

Despite being one of the probables for the 2016 Junior Hockey World Cup, Hardik missed the bus to Lucknow where the Indian side was crowned World Champions. There was a time in 2017 when the midfielder thought of leaving India and flying to The Netherlands to play club hockey in the European nation. It was only because of his childhood idol Jugraj Singh, who also happens to be his uncle, he decided to stay back and keep knocking the doors of the senior national team.

Speaking about his feeling of not getting a chance in the junior World Cup squad, Hardik said, “Was little disappointed after not getting into the team but I knew that we had a balanced side and all the deserving players found a place in the side. Eventually, India won the trophy in the end in front of our own supporters.”

Hardik got a chance to rub shoulders with the big boys of international hockey in 2016 when he was bought by the Punjab franchise of Hockey India League for $39,000. Hardik shared the dressing room with international captains like Sardar Singh, Mark Knowles, and Robert van der Horst and according to him, the experience of playing in the league was of huge help in shaping up his professional career.

“Sardar Paaji (Sardar Singh) did have a great influence on my game and was guiding me properly during the HIL matches in my first season of the league. He was analysing my game and was helping me to rectify my game which helped me to grow. It was my privilege to be a part of the team that had some big international names like Mark Knowles and Robert van der Horst,” informed Hardik.

Coming from a hockey family, Hardik first trained under his grandfather who was a national level hockey player and a coach in Indian Navy. His father also played the sport till a certain level in his home state Punjab. When asked about the reactions of family members after his selection, he replied, “Every player has an aim of playing for India at the Olympics or World Cup. So, my family members and relatives were delighted after the news of me playing the World Cup came in.”

As he has got into the World Cup team now, Hardik has one target and that is lifting the coveted trophy in Bhubaneswar in front of a passionate hockey crowd at the Kalinga Stadium. He is training hard to achieve the target and so is the Indian team under the coaching of Harendra Singh at the same venue.

“Target tohyahi hai ki first time hai mera world cup mein, final kheleinaurjeetein hum (As it is my first time in the World Cup, I have a target of qualifying for the final and winning the trophy). The crowd here is really passionate about the sport and they come in numbers to support us which gives us more energy and we will not disappoint them in the World Cup.

"Harendra Sir knows the mentality of the players and he keeps faith in each and every player in the side and takes proper care of them. After the training sessions here, we can hope a good show by the team in the tournament,” concluded Hardik.

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