RUPINDER PAL SINGH: I enjoy playing here

Rupinder’s date with Malaysia continues. Its in Malaysia the novice made his international debut in Ipoh. Six years later the lanky defender is calling the shots in every game he played in another city in the same country, Kuantan.

He leads the over all scorer’s chart in the Asian Champions Trophy. Significantly, his timely goals turned out game changers for India which right now is sitting pretty at top of table with 13 points. The Faridmot’s falcon agrees and feels his best comes out in Malaysia.

Happily recollecting his sojourns in Malaysia, he said that he thoroughly enjoy playing in Malaysia:

“For me Malaysia is the best place, favourite place. My best comes out here. I can only say I enjoy here, play well but cannot explain beyond. Its just happening”, Rupinder Pal Singh said with happiness written all over his face and moments after his 58th minute goal settled the Malaysian challenge on Wednesday.

Asked about his mood as he stepped out to negotiate the last of India’s penalty corner when the goal was tantalizingly poised at 1-1, he reflected: I enjoy such situation. At the same time I am happy the goal gave my team the much needed victory”.

Satisfied on his personal performance he said: “I am happy I struck many goals, more so when my goal today helped us win”.

Rupinder conceded that today was a difficult match, as Malaysia they had full support and playing hard.

“We could still win”.

Asked whether he expected such a tough match considering India’s top rank, he said it depends on how we start and play. “They made good turn over, they were fully dominating. Sardar came out with some good moves which helped us”.

Rupinder Pal Singh struck the first goal off second penalty corner after Kumar Subramaniam, rival goalie, blocked his first drag, but latched n to the rebound that flew near him on the top edge of the circle. Subsequently, Kumar would not let in his further PC attempts.

Rupinder had to say about this: “Kumar is a good goalkeeper, he employed good strategy, and blocked some of my penalty corners. I used a different style to score the winning goal”.

As the event meanders to next phase of knock-out, Rupinder cautioned:

“Important Phase now. We should be careful and do better and better”.

Despite being defender, he is often seen pepping up attack. Does he take overload and whether it taxes him?

Smiling Rupinder responded this way: “Yes I overlap whenever and wherever I felt necessary. Team sometimes go in to defensive mood I try to go up. To help and improve the team’s cause”.

His energy, precision, willingness to go for the kill, sweating for extra mile has endeared him here in Kuantan. That this edition of Asian Champions Trophy is going to be written on his name is understatement.

Vital stats:

BORN 11.11.1990
POSITION Defender
PRODUCT OF Chandigarh Hockey Academy
ASIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2011,2012,2016
MATCHES PLAYED IN ACT 17 as of 26th Oct.
GOALS SCORED IN ACT 17 as of 26th Oct.
GOALS SCORED FOR INDIA SINCE 2014 43 in 80 matches