Blessed with the silken touch, the midfielder has scored many a memorable goal for Germany at both the senior and junior levels.

Born on December 19, 1993, Christopher Ruhr was the livewire in Germany’s 2013 Junior World Cup triumph in New Delhi – he cites as the highlight of his career thus far.

His precocious talent fetched him the 2013 and 2015 FIH Rising Stars award. Ruhr, who plays for Rott-Weiss Koln in the German league, is a natural athlete and was even given a chance to trial at Bayern Munich, the football powerhouse.

The youngest of four siblings — his sisters and brother played hockey — Ruhr took an instant liking for the sport which he began playing at six. He won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and plays for Rott-Weiss Koln in the German league.

Off the field, the holder of an Olympic bronze medal won at Rio 2016 aspires to emulate his father who is a doctor and hopes to pursue medicine after he retires from the game.