Hockey player Jarmanpreet puts behind dark memories of doping ban, gears up for Olympics debut

New Delhi: Jarmanpreet Singh’s career faced a significant setback in 2016 due to a frustrating doping ban, but the defender has put that bitter episode behind him as he eagerly prepares for his Olympics debut in Paris later this month.

A consistent member of the Indian hockey team in recent years, Jarmanpreet was named in the 16-member squad for the Paris Games. Reflecting on the doping ban from 2016 to 2018, he described it as one of his darkest phases, marked by uncertainty and challenges.

“It was not easy. Players don’t usually recover from setbacks like this. Sitting out of matches for two years is a substantial gap in any athlete’s career,” Jarmanpreet recalled.

At the time of the ban, Jarmanpreet was on track to represent India at the Junior World Cup 2016. However, he remained resilient, serving the full two-year suspension before making a determined comeback to competitive hockey and eventually earning his place back in the senior national team.

“I was persistent and knew I had to bounce back. The strong domestic structure provided me with the platform to showcase my skills and prove to the selectors that I still had what it takes,” said Jarmanpreet, who currently serves as an Income Tax officer, as stated in a release by Hockey India.

“After participating in the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship in 2018, I was among the 50 probables selected for the camp. Hockey India’s support helped me rebuild my career. I was given the opportunity to rejoin the national programme and make my senior India debut,” he added.

Since his debut at the 2018 Champions Trophy in Breda, Netherlands, where India clinched the silver medal, the 27-year-old has accumulated valuable experience, playing in 98 international matches. He was part of the gold-winning squad at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and contributed to India’s silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Currently in Switzerland for a mental conditioning camp with the Indian team, Jarmanpreet expressed his excitement about the upcoming Olympics.

“Our journey as a team has been incredible, navigating through highs and lows together. Now, we are fully focused on our goal, entering the final phase of our preparations,” he remarked.

“I am eagerly looking forward to our campaign at the Paris Olympics,” Jarmanpreet concluded, highlighting his determination and enthusiasm for his first appearance on the Olympic stage. PTI