Chetri is the first goalie to lead India at the Olympics; this piece of history gives him added responsibility to see India perform to potential. From a comeback kid of Indian hockey to what he is today, Chetri has come a long way.

Bharat Chetri is comeback kid of Indian hockey. The talented goalie was recalled for the national training camp after the 2010 World Cup.

Hugely talented Bharat Chetri is one of the most enduring goalkeepers of our times. One of the five sons of an army personnel, Chetri learnt nuances of hockey at the Danapur Army School before joining Sports Authority of India’s Centre of Excellence, Bangalore, in 1998. Chetri was as adjudged best goalkeeper of the 1997 Junior Nationals.

Before making his senior debut in the Dhaka Prime Minister Gold Cup in 2001, he had played in the 2000 Junior Asia Cup, 2000 Pozan Jr. Challenge, 2001 Akher el Yom Cup and the 2001 Samaranch Cup. The team won either gold or silver in all these engagements.

Chetri was deputy to Devesh Chauan at the 2001 World Cup in Hobart, Australia, and did exceedingly well whenever called up for duty. Chetri has been in and out of team between 2002 and 2004, before coach Rajinder Singh Jr. recalled him for the Mini-World Cup in 2005. Chetri cemented his place with a sterling show at the otherwise disastrous home 2005 Champions Trophy in Chennai.

With him on the rolls, India truly has good competent goalkeepers after a long time. Chetri represents Services in the domestic circuit and Bangalore Lions in the PHL. Under Joaquim Carvalho, he played the 2007 Sultan Azlan Cup and then only the Belgium Series in the early 2008. He could not get into the team after the Chile Olympic Qualifier. He has now been recalled for the national training camp to commence in Pune later this month (April 2010).

Last International Appearance: 3-Nation in Spain

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