Promising the new drag flicker, Jugraj Singh expressed that his experience with the Indian men’s hockey team during the FIH Hockey Pro League matches in Potchefstroom where he played France and South Africa was memorable.
“Debuting in an important event like the FIH Hockey Pro League was definitely an emotional moment for me and it was very special for India (against South Africa) to only get a hat-trick in their second game. It is amazing how much support I have received from the entire team and I believe there is a lot to learn from each of their experiences.”
Having been part of India’s successful outings, where they won 5-0 against France, beat South Africa 10-2 in both matches and lost 2-5 to France, Jugraj feels are better equipped to know what to do at this stage. How to play for India and be mentally prepared for back-to-back matches.
“We had created a lot of match scenarios when we trained at SAI, Bengaluru, but actually playing against a real opponent is quite different and we have to overcome success or defeat in one game and move on quickly to the next one. How do you need to grow? It was one of the most important things I learned during this outing.”
From a humble background, Jugraj’s father worked as a daily wage porter at Seema in Attari, the youngest of five siblings, Jugraj is the only person in the family who chose sports as a career. After shifting to a sports hostel at the young age of 11, he overcame various struggles of life. He earned a job in the Indian Navy, from where his career took shape by playing domestic matches.
“It took a lot of struggle and hard work to get here and I am ready to work harder to make it to the team. My father was a porter at the border and it was really difficult for him to handle everything.”
“I started playing hockey at the age of six. I used to play with my friends in the village, then I came to know about Baba Uttam Singh National Hockey Academy in Khadoor Sahib, where everything from hockey to education to food was given free of cost. I thought it might help me improve my life. I thought at least a good qualification would help in getting a respectable job, if not sports.”
At Khadoor Sahib Hostel, Jugraj honed his skills under coach Balkar Singh. After a few years, he got an internship at Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Delhi and played in various tournaments for almost three years. Then, in 2016, he got a job in the Indian Navy, which changed the course of his life. “Hockey has changed my life ever since I took that hockey stick. It has really improved my family’s financial condition,” he said.
The versatile player has traded his way to service game control boards in the domestic circuit. During the Board of Control for Services Sports’ gold medal winning campaign in the 10th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2020 (A Division), Jugraj was awarded the Player of the Tournament for his performance.
He earned his first call-up for the Indian national camp this year, after playing in the first Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2021, a special tournament for PSUs that was introduced by Hockey India in 2021. “This tournament was organized for the first time for the departments, and I was selected for the camp. I feel very fortunate and this is a great initiative by Hockey India, it has opened doors for players like me.”
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