Indian hockey player Sukhjeet Singh aims for dream debut

New Delhi: After a back injury left his right leg temporarily paralysed six years ago, Sukhjeet Singh overcame the ‘most difficult’ phase of his life to secure a place in the Indian men’s hockey team for the Olympics. He is determined to prove his worth at the Games that begin on July 26.

The 28-year-old attacker is participating in the Olympic Games for the first time.

“Playing at the Olympics has always been a dream for me and my family. It is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career and I feel honoured to be given this opportunity,” Sukhjeet, who made his India debut in 2022, said in a press release from Hockey India (HI).

“I believe that my hard work and dedication have paid off. Now I am determined to fulfil my role in the team with excellence and repay the faith of my coach and teammates by giving everything in Paris.”

Jalandhar-born Sukhjeet started playing hockey at the age of six, inspired by his father Ajit Singh, a former hockey player for the Punjab Police. Despite his early start, his path to the senior Indian team was not an easy one.

In 2018, Sukhjeet was called up to the first-team squad, but a strange back injury left his right leg temporarily paralysed, putting his dream on hold.

“That period was one of the hardest times of my life. Being bedridden for almost five months was physically and mentally exhausting. I couldn’t walk, let alone play hockey, and even the simplest tasks like feeding myself became impossible.

“Every day it felt like my dream of playing hockey was slipping further away, and it was incredibly discouraging,” he recalls.

Sukhjeet said his family, especially his father, gave him unwavering support and belief in his potential, which kept him going at a time when he “felt like giving up.”

“…his refusal to let me lose hope was crucial in getting me back on my feet. His determination to see me back on the pitch was infectious and gave me the strength to push through the pain and challenges,” he said.

After recovering from his injury, Sukhjeet finally got to wear the coveted blue shirt against Spain during the 2021-22 FIH Pro League season. He made his debut with a goal.

Over the last two years, Sukhjeet has shown his remarkable talent and consistency by scoring 20 goals in the 70 matches he played for the country.

He played a key role in the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, scoring three goals in six games. He was also part of the gold medal-winning teams at the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai and the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.

Sukhjeet recently made a significant contribution to the FIH Hockey Pro League, where he scored five goals.

“The last two years have been incredibly rewarding for me. Every game has been a learning experience, pushing me to improve and contribute more to the team’s success,” he said.

“I am now fully focused on the Olympic Games in Paris and I am determined to give my best performance to help our team achieve the highest honor.”