Harmanpreet Singh enjoys his role as an inspired goalkeeper

He came to Johor Bahru as one among the 18 players. Within a week since the competition began, he has carved out a niche for himself. Playing against top teams like Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan, he has gained confidence, and with that the fortune of the nation also went up.

Harmanpreet Singh is not an extraordinary goalie, who can change the course the match on his own. Certainly not, but somewhere in him is a zeal that propels him to that level, at least he aspires to be on the top echelon. He will have surely give lot of credit to Sultan of Johor Cup, where he is noticed.

“I was not doing my best in the camp, and probably I was kept second goalkeeper for the tournament here. Leaving the first macth, I am played here in the rest, I think I did my best for the team”, the youngster recollected for the benefit of www.stick2hockey.com.

Born in a hamlet called Kula Lalsingh, Harmanpreet had his basic hockey at Cheema Hockey Academy in Patala, the birth place of another star Prabhjot Singh. This is here his coach Ranjit Singh Cheema made him the ‘costliest’ player on the field.

He may have taken to sports early, but his family has no sporting history except that his father played kabadi like every Punjabi does.

Since than, that is since 2006, this lad has been wearing all paraphernalia that goes with goalkeeping in modern hockey.

His career graph grew as he moved place to place. First halt was at Amritsar. Here in the Raja Ranjit Singh Academy, under the guidance of Balwinder Singh ‘Shammy’, he gained much, before moving to Jalandhar, hub of hockey in Punjab. He entered the net of Punjab and Sind Bank academy- and its where is at present.

“The tournament is first for me, am enjoying. Lot of Indians also come here, cheer us, it feels nice” he says.

Australia certainly was the tough team to face here, and playing well against them boosted his morale.

“Australia and New Zealand are very good, they pack power in their shots. Australians are still better in penalty corner shots. The first goal we conceded is still fresh in my memory. I spotted the flight, extended my hand, yet the ball hit the gloves, got deflected into the net, the ball must have been taken very hard by the flicker”, he elaborated.

On the eve of India making its last bid for the finals – India will enter the final if it would beat Malaysia on Friday – he is all motivated to give his best.

“I will do all I can tomorrow” he said.

Like many in the team he certainly feels the absence of Garjinder Singh. I was more comfortable with him in the deep defence. His drag flicks were as powerful as any best in here, we are unfortunate we don’t have him here”, he said.

Whatever, much would depend on this lad’s form tomorrow when India takes the hosts in its last effort to count among the best. Let’s see.