For Jugraj Singh, it’s mission redemption

Sandeep Narayan

It would be too brash to blame India’s former penalty corner specialist for the team’s loss in the final of the Busan Asian Games. However, the former Punjab Police player is fortunate to be given a chance at redemption.

Eight years later as India prepares for yet another grueling fortnight at the Asiad, Jugraj is back at the helm of things in Indian hockey only this time as a coach. Destiny it seems works in strange ways.

“I don’t know if this was my destiny. The loss in the finals was heartbreaking we were down 3-0 and worked so hard to get the match levelled at 3-3. Then we lost the plot in the dying minutes. We made some silly mistakes and I cannot do anything about that now. Hopefully, as a coach I can serve India again,” Jugraj, who is India’s new penalty corner coach, told Mumbai Mirror.

Good to be back

“I have been drafted as a short corner specialist and have been with the squad for the last four- five months. It feels good to be back with the guys.”

His prowess in penalty corners, both offensively and defensively, is what made him such an exciting prospect half a decade back. But now he is keen to pass on his expertise to the present lot. “Sandeep is a very good drag- flicker, but he must push the ball towards the target.

We know we have a low conversion rate when it comes to penalty corners and we’ve got use variations. Dhananjay (Mahadik), Rupinder (Pal Singh) and Diwakar Ram are good pushers. We need to use them in variations. We tried it during the Commonwealth Games and we need to do more of it in China.”

Once a man fighting to regain his spot in the team, Jugraj’s goal now is to see India getting gold in the Asian Games and for that PC conversion will be the most important aspect.

“I felt back then we were a team that had it in them to win gold and I see that in this team. They inspire hope and during the tournament apart from China and South Korea I see no other team giving us any major trouble.”

He won’t be traveling with the team to China, but says that if India does reach the top of the podium it would be enough for him.

“I do not know if the gold medal will completely redeem our mistakes, but it would make me feel a bit better. We won silver in 2002 and nothing in 2006 so to have a role in India’s win will be extra special.”