SANDEEP SINGH:
Sensational Sandeep Singh is a shining star on the enchanting hockey horizon. He is India’s lethal goal striker with high rate of success. Goals rein in from his stick like a torrential rain and wash away the rivals’ fame. He stuck so many goals in the events he participates that the ‘Top Scorer’ title is naturally there for his asking. The star combines force with guile to mesmerize even the best of goalkeepers while converting penalty corners into goals.
Charismatic Sandeep Singh is also Indian hockey’s miracle man. He was hit by a stray bullet when he was traveling to join the national team for the last World Cup (2006). With sheer guts and gumption, the lion-hearted defender bounced back into the national side two years later. What a sensational comeback it proved to be! In the first tournament on his return — 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup — the goal poacher won the hearts with 9 goals, any individual’s highest at Ipoh in Malaysia.
The goal-hungry Sandeep continued to excel in the same event next year also. India won the Azlan Shah Cup in 2009 after 14 years gap; Sandeep was obviously the top scorer again, with six immaculate goals. Sandeep’s timely goals got India its first Junior Asia Cup in 2004, a honour for India in 22 years since the Junior Asia Cup was put on board in 1982. His annual tally of goals is an unparallel record; 30 in 2009 alone.
ARJUN HALAPPA:
Diminutive dynamo Arjun Halapa is a gifted ball artist, who can change the course of any match on his day. His ball control is a beauty, a vintage stuff. With bountiful energy and matching brain power, Arjun sets the tune and tenor of the matches, weaves cobweb around the rival teams. Arjun Halappa is a rare stick artistic, skilful and a match winner. More than the goals the short frail lad scores on his own, he sets up plenty for others to score, that is the beauty of this selfless Arjun’s game. Arjun thus is a thorough match maker. He is also byname for endurance and continuity, as he gets ready for his third World Cup in Delhi.
The jewel from traditional hockey heartland – Coorg area in Karnataka – started his career as a forward, enjoying scoring. As years went by, his all round capabilities won the hearts of coaches who used him in almost all the roles. He is now the most matured and mainstay of the team. It is a long journey for Arjun who first played for India in 2001. His team won the Gold in his maiden senior tour, Prime Minister Gold Cup in Dhaka. Arjun also relished Junior World Cup Gold at Hobart and Champions Challenge Cup in the same year, a bit later the senior Asia Cup Gold. The golden boy carries hockey lineage as his father too is a well known hockey player.
RAJPAL SINGH
Tall, athletic Rajpal Singh evokes enigma when on field. A speedy star on the turfs, the Chandigarh’s forward is a terror on the wings. With eye for openings, the right winger is poetry in motion when runs on the flanks with the ball glued to his stick. He sends numerous crosses that not only lead to Indian goals, but also set the turf on fire. Sparkling Rajpal came into reckoning even as he was playing as colts. In 2001 at the Sub-Junior Asia Cup, the lad was hailed as ‘Skilful Sikh’ by the local Malaysian Media, and when India won the Cup, he was fittingly declared the Best Player of the Tournament. Rajpal did not look back since then. Rajpal soon became a right horse for the course.
A winger is an exciting proposition in any team and it cannot be otherwise when this lanky star will be on the playing fields. His electric run downs pierces even the tightest of European defences. His speed, athleticism, and opportunism endeared the spectators to the hilt. Whenever he is with the ball, the crowd erupts in joy and in such environ, he came out with his best. He is a crowd puller, his game rose in response to every single appreciation of the crowd. For the home crowd, this son provided many thrilling moments when he led Chandigarh Dynamos to many superb victories in the Premier Hockey League. Golden hue in Junior World Cup, Champions Challenge Cup, and Asia Cup fill up his achievement basket.
TUSHAR KHANDKER
‘Toofani’ Tushar Khandker is defenders’ nightmare. The jewel from Jhansi, with acute and accurate sense of goal scoring on fast moves, posted heartwarming goals in numbers. Wherever he is played, centre forward, winger or inside forward, Tushar is always on the scorers’ list for sure.
This talented lad started his hockey career at the age of 12, seeing his father and uncles wielding the stick at home. When tasked to schooling and academics, he spurned in bits and scratches before totally turning to hockey. A decision that proved fruitful for him and gainful for the country. He is a rare Indian player, who have won Gold at all age group Asia Cup events – Under 16, Under 18, Under 21, and the Senior Asia Cup. Whenever India needed goal, Tushar is dot on the job.
Tushar runs on the turf as if it is his fiefdom or kingdom. With serve, dodge and evasive skills, which he is enormously endowed with, ‘toofani’ Tushar tear the rival defence into smithereens for many fabulous Indian victories. His hat-trick of goals in the Karachi Jr. Asia Cup final gave India the Cup first time in 22 years. He posted another hattrick last ear against Belgium in the Test Series. Top honours in the Senior Asia Cup and Afro-Asian Games are some of the rewards in his golden hockey career.
Once when he was on a tour, his father died. The braveheart flew back to India, but returned in the shortest possible time to continue his duty. He braved the personal tragedy and shone in the much awaited competition in Amsterdam. Such determination and will power were possible, because hockey is not just a game for him, but a passion, a mission and everything else can wait.
SARDAR SINGH
Haryana’s Hurricane Sardar Singh is Indian hockey’s midfield maestro. His aggression and lightening moves on the field upset the rivals, brings reward for his team. He is a smiling assassin of our team – with cool and collected mental out look he changes the rhythm of the game from despair to domination. Sardar Singh, with his methodical moves and meticulous swerves, sets the pace of the game as per the team’s needs. He is a pivot around which the team and its fortune, revolve.
Hailing from Sirsa in Haryana, the humble boy rose to become team’s darling in a short span of time. He made his international debut in 2005, since then ensconced himself permanently with all the Indian ventures. Though not expected to score, he often rescued the team from goal droughts; the winner he posted against Korea in the 2007 Azlan Shah Cup gave us the bronze. The youngster led India to Silver next year in the Azlan Shah Cup. The medal ran climaxed last year with the title win, Sardar playing a sterling role in the success. Sardar’s elder brother, Didar Singh, too is a renowned hockey player, still active in the domestic circuit.
PRABJOTH SINGH
Punjab’s Prabhjot, nicknamed aptly ‘jyoti’ by his team mates, is the crowning glory of contemporary hockey scene. Fastest Indian on hockey turfs, the left winger leaves the marking defender in lurch. He spots the gaps before it was not there, and this gift has been his secret of success in his long hockey career.
World recognized the great player in more than one way. Field hockey’s global governing body, the FIH, included him in the 2009 All Star World Team a year after Government of India’s decorated him with the prestigious Arjuna.
Whatever the fame the pugnacious Punjab lad deserved every bit of it. So passionate was hockey for him that he forced his parents to shift his school to one that had better hockey ground! Trained in NIS Patiala and then in Air India Academy, he forced the selectors to take note of him early on. Once made it to the senior side in 2001, Prabhjot lived upto the expectations in his nearly decade long successful career. He was the fastest in the 60m tests in the camps, and this kind of speed helped him outwit defenders and go for the goal kill. One such occasion was Asia Cup in Chennai which India won in 2007. His personal tally of 14 goals there was the highest by any Indian hockey player in the recent history. Gold at Prime Minister Cup, Champions Challenge, Junior World Cup, Asia Cup twice are some of the honours in his ever-expanding kitty.
Adrian D’Souza: Goalkeeper from Mumbai, fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi.
Communications skills are high. In the national team since 2004 Olympics, is fairly aware of hockey’s contemporary happenings around the world. He is one goalkeeper who can easily take on Sohail Abbas. This he has done it in innumerable times, even when younger and fitter Sohail Abbas was roaring like lion in the midway through last decade.
Dhananjay Mahadhik: All rounder, in the national team only in the last one year, but has grown with lot of Penalty Corner goals, talked about player in the contemporary scene, has played consistently in foreign league, acquired fluency in many languages, Hindi, English, Marathi included. He is trump in the 2010 World Cup.