India’s ace defender and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh has said that “simultaneously facing a period of hardship” when the team was confined to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Bengaluru for months, has played a key role in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Strengthened your resolve to perform well. Play.
Harmanpreet, who has been a central figure in the Indian men’s hockey team’s resurgence in recent years, said that despite trailing Germany 1-3 in the bronze medal match at the Olympics, the “collective mentality” had to be shed and it was a big deal for the country. win.
Harmanpreet’s performance in Tokyo earned the 26-year-old the title of FIH Men’s Player of the Year 2021. Speaking about the long-awaited Olympic bronze, which India won after more than four decades, Harmanpreet said, “Our team spent a lot of time together in lockdown last year before the Olympics. It was a difficult situation as we were not able to go home in the initial months of the lockdown, but facing that difficult phase prepared us for the challenges of the Olympics last year.
“Even after trailing 3-1 against a team like Germany in a bronze medal match, it was our collective mindset in tough conditions that eventually put us on the line.”
Harmanpreet has steadily risen in the ranks of the team since making her national team debut in 2015. Speaking about his role as the vice-captain of the team, he said, “I really enjoy this added responsibility. It never felt like an added pressure as everyone in the team gets along with each other.” Is able to communicate openly. Of course, other senior players like (Captain) Manpreet (Singh) and Mr. Bhai (Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh) also take the responsibility of guiding the team in training and match situations, so it is on behalf of the entire team It is a collective effort to grow together.
Another aspect of the game that Harmanpreet has mastered is scoring from penalty corners. One of the most dreaded drag-flickers in the world, the Punjab defender said that his grounding at Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar had made him a fearful drag-flicker.
“I was training in Ludhiana when my coaches recognized me as a potential drag-flicker, but I got the proper training to take penalty corners for the first time at Surjeet Hockey Academy in Jalandhar. I personally spent a lot of time before and after team practice hours to hone my drag flicks, and also get the right kind of guidance from the senior players at the academy.
“Then when I came to the national team, I saw players like Sardar Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh working on their game. Learning from him helped me hone my skills even more,” said Harmanpreet.
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