My job is to give my best: Baljit Singh
Vijay Lokapally
It is important I do well for the sake of the team
PROUD MOMENT: Baljit Singh receives the ‘Man of the Match’ award from former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhinsa after India’s win over Germany on Tuesday.
CHANDIGARH: For a man who braves those hard drives with the ball travelling at frightening velocity, Baljit Singh is a man soft to a fault. Hiding behind the protective mask is a young, good-looking player, polite yet firm, one who is willing to take the brickbats in the same spirit as the bouquets.
Proud of an encouraging background of kabaddi-loving parents, Baljit’s fascination to this sport was “natural.” Of course, he loved playing cricket in the neighbourhood but he took a fancy to hockey in his school — Guru Gobind Singh School here. One of his batch-mates, Rajpal Singh, is a playing member of the Indian team today.
Baljit’s love for goalkeeping was not natural. “It was an accident,” he says. The regular goalkeeper in a school match could not make it and Baljit “volunteered” to take up the exacting responsibility. He shone under the bar and decided to block goals and not score them as an inside-right, the position he excelled at. Former international Romeo James, now a goalkeeping coach, praises Baljit. “He has amazing confidence and mental strength. I am very impressed with his courage. He stands like a rock as balls fly at him and that to me is his best quality. He looks a natural goalkeeper,” observes James.
Needless to say, goalkeeper’s is a thankless job. Baljit, 28, does not mind. “I hardly get time to think if I am being rewarded or not. My job is to give my best and that is what I look to achieve. I never think of failure; I never think of the future either.”
Baljit is honest enough to admit his aspirations were modest. “I just wanted to play, never really thought I would make it this far. Hockey as a profession was never top priority. I just wanted to get noticed and enjoy my game.” He credits his career to Jasbir Singh Bajwa, his coach at the Sector 42 Stadium here. Baljit was 14 when Bajwa saw him first and has been the goalkeeper’s mentor since.
How does he look at his role in the team?
“It is important I do well for the sake of the team. Each man has a specific role to perform. I look at it as if I am doing my duty. Failures or triumphs do not influence my approach. I do analyse my game. Everyone does it. I don’t give up and that is my strong point, I think. I push myself, motivate myself to stay in the race.”
Goalkeeper’s is not only a thankless job but a tough one too. “Much tougher than what it was a decade ago,” admits James. The game has evolved in terms of speed and tactics. His anticipation and courage have been the most striking features during the ongoing Gold Cup hockey tournament. And he wants to improve.