Burras rising star Jayshaan Randhawa makes a sort of history
When the Burras, as the Junior Australian team is branded, begin their World Cup journey in a couple of days, 20-year old Jayshaan Randhawa, ‘jay’ to his friends, will surely attract some attention.
A native of Melbourne, this mid-fielder is the first Indian origin player to represent Australian team, albeit colts level, though a lot many Anglo-Indians sparkled on the Australian hockey horizon, including its Delhi Junior World Cup coach and former Olympian Paul Gaudoin.
Thus, the youngster of Doncaster Club makes history even before bully off in Delhi.
Jayshaan has further historicity attached to him. He has a rather interesting family history.
Jay’s grandfather Harbans Randhawa hails from Malaysia and has played hockey for Johor State Sikhs. Now in India for Junior World Cup, Jay will be playing for the Burras.
And he will have his family – three younger sisters, grandfather, grandmother, mother and father-cheering loudly for him in the stands.
Jayshaan in fact hold aloft the unique Sikh tradition of sporting hockey whichever country they chose to settle.
A valuable addition to the Sikh pantheon of hockey, Jayshaan is yet to graduate to Senior side, but Sikh blood might help him scale that too.
Hear it from his mother’s voice, which vouchsafe passion of Sikhs for hockey.
Says his mother Alison, “Jay’s grand father Harbans Randhawa is from Malaysia and has played for them. Jay is a Sikh, so hockey is in his blood. World Cup is an important tournament. We are all proud of him.”
In fact, not just grandpa, Jay has other reasons for playing hockey. “As a child, Jay was nursed by a lady whose sons played hockey. So, he wanted to play as well. He started playing since he was five.”
So, did this Burra faced any trouble finding a spot in the team keeping in mind his origin?
“Not at all. He works hard and plays well. If you play well, you are selected. That’s all,” Alison leaves no room for any doubt.
There is still an interesting thing about Jay. Apart from representing the senior Australian team, Jay also aims to become a doctor, precisely a surgeon.
In fact, he is currently studying science in Melbourne and will soon take up medicine.
So, finally doctor or hockey?
“Well, he wants both,” his mother laughs off, and has the last laugh of the chat.
When he completes his medical course in a couple of years, Jayshaan will emulate another doctor who played great hockey, Australian team’s current national coach Ric Charlesworth.
About Jayshaan Randhawa:
Nickname: Jay
D.O.B: 28/10/1993
Birth Place: Melbourne
Position: Midfielder
Occupation: student
Hobbies: Golf and music
Achievements:
2010 Youth Olympic Gold
2012 Sultan of Johor Cup 3rd
2012 Junior Oceania Cup 1st
With additional input from K. Arumugam
Jayshaan photo courtesy: Mitchell Eastman and Sukhdev Pandher, both from Perth, WA.