Nine years in the past he first stepped into the highlight — and hasn’t left it ever since. As a defender, drag-flicker and chief, from junior ranks to senior, Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has walked into each position assigned to him with quiet confidence and made it his personal.
Still simply 27, Harmanpreet has been an integral half of the Indian crew ever since he introduced his arrival as the top-scorer at the Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup in 2014. His elevation to senior-team captaincy in early 2022 was merely the logical end result of a course of set in movement nearly a decade in the past.
As a participant, he’s each talisman and match-winner — the drag-flicker has been a dependable objective machine, the disappointing blip throughout the 2023 World Cup however. As the very important final line of defence, he understands the significance of his position. Adept at stealing the ball cleanly because of his eager consciousness of place and opposition, he hardly pushes or performs tough, hardly ever getting concerned in bodily tussles regardless of his immense energy.
Also learn: Results are vital however the predominant goal is getting ready for the Asiad: Harmanpreet
The one standout high quality, as participant and particular person, is his calmness. He defies nearly each stereotype related to gamers from Punjab — he isn’t a flashy ahead or overtly aggressive, he’s soft-spoken to the level of being barely audible and is fantastically disciplined.
“Harmanpreet brings a lot of experience and composure, he’s not a guy who needs to shout if things are not going well; he’s in fact just the opposite. He’s quite quiet in the eye of the storm, which is good and we need that — in his leadership as well as the position he plays. He also plays a lot of minutes and is really important for us,” India coach Craig Fulton says.
Recurring motif
It’s a recurring motif. As an 18-year-old child from Amritsar, his worldwide breakout efficiency got here at Johor. He had made the minimize for the nationwide camp as the second-highest goal-scorer at the Junior National Championships. Even again then, his self-discipline stood out — he didn’t entice a single warning in that match. “I have always been told that a calm mind wins more matches than a fiery temper. Aggression must ensure victory, not a penalty,” he had advised this correspondent at the moment, displaying maturity past his years.
Strong and stocky with broad shoulders and sturdy wrists toughened by years of driving a tractor again house as a teen, Harmanpreet has at all times been assured of his skills. He determined very early to be a drag-flicker so he might pose a objective menace in penalty-corners and his highly effective construct helped.
“Everyone loves to score goals. It was at Jalandhar [Surjit Academy] that I first tried my hand at drag-flick. My coaches felt I was good so they encouraged me to continue practising. As a defender and drag-flicker, I can both score goals and defend them, it’s the best of both worlds,” he had mentioned with fun again then.
Goal machine: Harmanpreet’s drag-flick experience has helped him rating 142 targets in 180 video games for the nationwide crew. | Photo credit score: Getty Images
Harmanpreet’s composure and talent to speak with out getting excited led Harendra Singh to make him an element of the management group throughout the 2016 Junior World Cup, which India received (its second title, having additionally triumphed in 2001). By then, he was already an Olympian.
This self-discipline and quietness have additionally led to unimaginable consistency. Consider this: he has scored 142 targets in 180 video games for the nationwide crew and since 2016 by no means sat out a single match in any FIH match, junior or senior, he has performed!
In truth, his capability to constantly step up beneath strain was what made his middling kind throughout the World Cup earlier this 12 months such a serious concern. It additionally highlighted the crew’s dependence on his goal-scoring prowess. Not that he was completely off-colour — he continued to marshal the defence admirably, with India conceding simply seven targets, amongst the lowest in the match — however his drag-flicks appeared to have misplaced their efficiency and accuracy.
By his personal lofty requirements, Harmanpreet had a median outing. But dealing with the similar query about his kind a number of occasions a day and replying each single time with out getting annoyed was a outstanding show of his endurance.
The momentary dip additionally led to issues of captaincy taking its toll on his sport though these had been quickly put to relaxation in the FIH Pro League video games that adopted — he’s the all-time high scorer in Pro League at the second. And speaking to others in the aspect, it’s clear captaincy sits straightforward on his muscular shoulders — similar to the whole lot else. He is a relaxing affect, particularly with the kids, who really feel comfy strolling as much as him.
The proven fact that he pulls his weight makes it simpler for him to count on the similar from the relaxation. During the Pro League at house in March, he performed a complete sport with out a break and was again on-field for nearly three quarters the subsequent day. It takes an insane quantity of coaching to realize that degree of health in fashionable worldwide hockey. It units a benchmark for others.
Pressure of expectations
Harmanpreet performs down the strain of expectations. “I don’t suppose there’s any additional strain. As a frontrunner, of course there’s duty. If anybody makes a mistake, it’s a must to ensure that they don’t overthink it or they’ll lose focus for the relaxation of the match. I attempt to discuss to everybody, particularly the kids, not nearly the sport however different issues additionally — households, life, normal stuff. I attempt to make them comfy and assist them in settling into the crew, preserve the environment such that anybody can discuss to anybody, ask something and never hesitate.
Stalwart: Harmanpreet Singh has been an integral half of Indian hockey since breaking by means of as a teen in 2014. | Photo credit score: Getty Images
“The more open communication you have, the better it is for the team. I try to give them the confidence to make decisions on field during a game — we can always assess later whether it was right or wrong but the important thing is to ensure they have the freedom to do what they think is right,” he explains.
Harmanpreet has at all times been a eager pupil, studying from coaching periods in addition to from the opposition throughout the sport — a trait former coaches Roelant Oltmans and Harendra had been significantly impressed with.
“I try to keep learning something new from every match, every tournament, every coach and every training session — only if I know my role can I help the team. As defenders we are the last line so we have to be calm and aware of the situation at all times. But we manage to multitask because it is our responsibility. When there is clarity about your role, it becomes easy,” he says.
The solely change, maybe, has been in embracing his standing. The experiences over the years have changed the shyness of youth with a consolation in communication. For somebody hesitant to talk with out being nudged, Harmanpreet has grown into one of the most considerate and articulate gamers in the aspect. It has solely made him much more helpful.
“We concentrate a lot on improving our communication down the lines and he plays a massive role in that. But mainly I think he’s just a very good guy and everyone supports him and they just want to do well for him,” Fulton says.
That, certainly, is the whole lot any captain can ask for.
