Again from wilderness, Sanjay goals to fill large sneakers | Hockey
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Sanjay had emerged as essentially the most promising Indian participant from the 2021 Junior Hockey World Cup. With eight objectives, together with two hat-tricks, the drag-flicker was the very best scorer for India and the third highest within the event.
It appeared like the fitting second for Sanjay to make his senior India debut. Penalty nook (PC) specialist Rupinder Pal Singh had simply retired after successful a bronze on the Tokyo Olympics. The slot for the second drag-flicker after India skipper Harmanpreet Singh alternated amongst Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Varun, Jarmanpreet Singh, amongst others. However no person’s toes appeared ok to fill the large sneakers of Rupinder.
However that chance by no means got here for Sanjay.
“The competitors is hard. I wasn’t anxious that I wasn’t chosen for India. I used to be additional motivated when the decision up didn’t come. I simply focussed on working arduous and never make errors. I made a decision to not give selectors any cause to not choose me whether or not they had been causes associated to recreation or health,” says the 22-year-old.
Sanjay, who hails from Dabra village close to Hisar in Haryana, determined to grind it out within the home circuit. The defender impressed the scouts, who chosen him within the listing of 60 probables in 2022. Inside a month’s time, he had made it to the elusive core group of 33 from which the Indian group is chosen.
Sanjay received an opportunity to symbolize India, albeit within the shorter format, when he helped his group win the inaugural FIH Hockey5s in June 2022. Not chosen for the principle, longer format of the sport, Sanjay once more went again to home hockey. He additionally took a tough resolution to shift his group from Chandigarh, which he represented all through his junior years, to Haryana.
After Graham Reid left following India’s debacle on the World Cup in January, new chief coach Craig Fulton received a month’s time in April-Could the place the Haryana teenager did sufficient to earn the boldness of the South African. Sanjay additionally impressed the RP Singh-led choice committee within the trials in April the place he scored objectives in all three matches in addition to cleared the Yo-Yo take a look at with flying colors.
After a wait of one-and-a-half years since enjoying the Junior World Cup, Sanjay was lastly chosen to play the European swing of the Professional League in Could-June that was held in London and Eindhoven. Out of India’s eight matches, Sanjay performed seven the place he additionally scored his first objective in opposition to Netherlands, serving to India win 4 video games.
“His efficiency was glorious. It didn’t even appear to be he was debuting for India, such was his confidence. He performed upfront and likewise within the midfield. It takes time for any new participant to suit into the system, however he did very properly,” says Gurminder Singh, coach of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) the place Sanjay skilled from 2011 to 2017 earlier than becoming a member of the junior nationwide setup.
Requested if he can fill the void left by Rupinder, who was additionally Gurminder’s scholar, the coach added: “Positively. He has at all times been a high goal-scorer in his junior days whichever event he went to. He wasn’t provided that many possibilities to show his expertise throughout penalty corners (in Europe) however he'll ship when his time comes. I'm certain of that.”
Other than Rupinder, Gurminder has additionally produced the likes of former internationals Gurjinder Singh and Dharamvir Singh and present India participant and Olympic bronze medallist Gurjant Singh on the Sector 42 academy.
Sanjay nonetheless discusses hockey each time he will get an opportunity together with his childhood coach. “He retains telling me to avail all possibilities by enjoying properly and with confidence. He at all times tells me to not suppose too far forward and to give attention to the present event, enhance match by match,” says Sanjay.
The drag-flicker has made the reduce for the 39 core probables out of which the Indian group for the Asian Champions Trophy, that shall be held in Chennai in August, shall be chosen, preserving him in sturdy rivalry to get chosen for the Asian Video games squad too.
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