“I want to become Baby India from baby Rhino”

Here is another Mandeep. He is not Mandeep Antil who often dazzled in the Azlan Shah Cups. He is younger, popular and almost the talk of the town.

We have with us Mandeep Singh, the tiny darling of Hockey India League.

Mandeep Singh is now in Ipoh, where Azlan Shah cup starts in 36 hours, and is all set to establish himself as a force to reckon with, stay put and count, forever.

In a freewheeling talk, he opens up with www.stick2hockey.com

“Azlan Shah Cup comes as a great opportunity for me. I want to utilize it to the fullest. While playing for the Ranchi Rhinos in the inaugural edition of HIL, I was nick-named ‘Baby-Rhino’, now I want to be called as ‘Baby India’.”

Thus spake Mandeep words of wisdom.

A product of Surjit Hockey Academy, based in Jalandhar, Mandeep took up hockey inspired by his cousin Balwinder Singh. “I come from Mithapur, the place which has produced the likes of Pargat Singh. So, the atmosphere for hockey was definitely there, hockey therefore came naturally to me,” the young but brave heart evaluates his early days.

Mandeep made his first junior international debut last year in the Asia Cup, also held in Malaysia at Malacca.

His coach then was Baljit Singh Saini, Asian Games goldie and Junior India coach at present.

Impressive as he was, Mandeep was focused on his game since then, and was waiting for a big break in his career.

It came early this year with the onset of Hockey India League. He was promptly taken in by Ranchi Rhnios.

The 17-year old tasted a fat USD 13,000 from Ranchi Rhinos’ franchise.

“Hockey India League was a good platform for a youngster like me. To be able to play with senior players and international stars instilled a lot of confidence in me. It was a great learning experience,” he asserts.

The young gun played a crucial role in leading the Rhino team for victory. He was the second-highest goal-scorer, only after Sandeep Singh; scoring ten goals in the league. For his spectacular show, he was declared as the ‘Upcoming Player of the Tournament’.

This is really a big feat, as it fetched him Rs.20 lacs booty too.

“As a team, Ranchi played well in the HIL. We had a good crowd support. As far as my performance is concerned, I tried to do my best and I am happy that I could contribute at crucial times for my team. I am thankful to my teammates and the Ranchi crowd for all their support.”

After a successful stint in the HIL, Mandeep got a green signal to make his international debut in the World Hockey League.

“It was always a dream to play for India. Being selected in the national squad was a great news to me. I was nervous initially, but my team mates were very helpful. I kept on taking advises from my seniors. After scoring the first goal against Oman (in the Hockey World League opener), I could relax.”

Now that Azlan Shah is on the cards, what are his expectations?

“We will win,” he says almost immediately. “We will bring home a medal.”

In a short span of time, he shot into the limelight. Its a dream come true for the lad from junior international to Indian star in a year’s time. Now he is catapulted to bigger stage where only the die-hard pros survive.

Only time will tell he will emerge mature Mandeep or show signs of burn out.

But as of now he is mellowed and optimistic, and is raring to go full length.

That is good news for India.