Chinglensana Singh is used to setbacks in life.

His parents separated when he was a child and a dire financial situation didn’t make it easy pursuing hockey. But the young Chinglensana persevered. His attitude today is borne out of hurdles and hardships he faced in childhood. His mother was a solid source of support and encouragement as the youngster took to hockey in class VI at St George’s school in Imphal. Friends and maternal uncles supported him in his endeavour and especially former India player Brojen Singh.

But the challenges continue. Right now Chinglensana grapples with issues to hit his old form again after suffering a double whammy. The effervescent and hardworking midfielder missed much of 2019 action because of an ankle injury. And then, in a Covid-19 afflicted world, the lockdown and ensuing restrictions have left him with some catching up to do.

Chingalensana Singh

“It’s been a tough phase for me personally because I had only just returned to competitive hockey earlier this year after a long injury-break that had kept me out of action almost all through 2019,” said Chinglensana the India midfielder who has played 207 international matches and scored 14 goals.

The 2019 Arjuna awardee views the next few months as critical for the Indian team to hit form. The 28-year-old spoke from the national coaching camp at SAI, Bengaluru, which resumed a little over three weeks ago after a forced five-month break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chinglensana believes the secret is easing into activity after a prolonged period of being confined to rooms. The Manipur-born Arjuna Awardee asserted that taking things slow will help and that he doesn’t intend putting pressure on himself to hit top form immediately.

Akashdeep (l) and Chinglensana Singh holding the Asian Champions Trophy they won in 2016

“It will take some time (at least two-three months) for all of us to hit the same form we were in earlier this year. This period will be critical for us. The good thing is that we don’t have any major competition till end of this year which gives us enough and more time to return to the form we were in during the FIH Hockey Pro League earlier this year,” he said. 

The Manipur-born midfielder made his International debut at the 2011 Champions Challenge in South Africa.

“Chief Coach Graham Reid is also not in any rush and he has mentioned to us that the team management will be looking at starting intensive training only later this year,” he added.

Chinglensana finds it reassuring that coach Graham Reid is constantly talking to players and giving them time. “That does not put pressure on us. We will know where we stand when we play internal matches which we have been told will happen only later this year,” he said. “The next few months we can purely focus on individual well-being both physically and mentally, and work on improving our fitness and speed.”

Introspection is the key, believes Chinglensana. Isolation induced by the pandemic has enabled players think about their own game and focus on the areas they have to improve. “I am sure we will bounce back a more matured, stronger and formidable team,” he enthused.

Chinglensana worked his way into employment with the Railways after being spotted by PNB Academy in Delhi during an U-17 Nehru Society tournament. His talents were spotted by many a side and stints with Mumbai Customs led to his recruitment in 2009 with Indian Railways.

He emerged best player at the Surjit Singh Memorial tournament that year and it was a prelude to his international career. He was among the standbys for the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, China, and was summoned after two players were dropped. However, passport issues prevented him from making the trip. There was no denying Chinglensana his international debut at the 2011 Champions Challenge after which he has been a fixture in the national side.

His forte is speed and aggressive initiation of counter-attacks.

A proud owner of two gold medals – at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2017 Dhaka Asia Cup – Chinglensana was the hub of the team’s effort at the 2018 World Cup in Bhubaneswar. At global level, he possesses two Champions Trophy silver medals won at London 2016 and Breda, Netherlands, 2018.

That’s in addition to two bronze medals at the World League (2014-15, Raipur and 2016-17 Bhubaneswar)

Stints in the Hockey India League honed his skills, temperament and prowess – first with Mumbai Magicians and then with Dabang Mumbai. He appreciates European hockey culture which trains players in the nuances at the grassroots and hopes he could induce the same among kids in his hometown sometime in the future.