S2H Team
Sandeep Sangwan, Head Coach of Haryana added another feather to his cap – the National Games men’s hockey title.
Defying the odds, Haryana took the top podium in Goa earlier this month with a 5-3 victory over Karnataka in the final leaving a trail of vanquished favourites.
Haryana’s women have ruled the roost in the country’s hockey, but the men have had to battle the odds over the years. At the centre of Haryana’s steady steps up the ladder has been Sangwan’s tutelage and the 44-year-old first lent his coaching prowess to the state’s team in 2011 when his outfit that had Indian icons Sardar Singh and Sandeep Singh in the ranks to their first-ever gold medal at the Senior National Championship in Bhopal.
Immediately after that landmark achievement, Sangwan, now an FIH Academy Level 3 coach, was given the reins of the State’s junior string and his golden touch brought the state top honours in Pune.
Then in Kerala in 2015, Sangwan guided Haryana to another piece of history by qualifying for the National Games which is restricted to the top eight teams in the country. A bronze medal there was a remarkable achievement and it provided a springboard for more.
Sangwan was deservedly roped in by Hockey India, first as a coach for the Junior National team and he assisted and interacted with the likes of Roelant Oltmans and Paul van Ass (The Netherlands) and Michael Nobbs and Terry Walsh (Australia).

King pins of Haryana team

In time, Sangwan, whose energy and enthusiasm knows no bounds, moved up to the senior team’s coaching panel and contributed to India’s heartening performances at the Hockey World League, Champions Trophy, the Azlan Shah Cup, and sundry Test series.
He took a break in 2016 to aid his wife who took seriously ill but re-emerged after she recovered to become a vital cog in Haryana’s development.
He wasn’t in the frame for the 2022 National Games in Gujarat but this time around, there was no denying him the hot seat in the Goa campaign.
“I have always received encouragement and support from Hockey Haryana General Secretary Sunil Malik which has helped us achieve the gold medal in Goa,” Sangwan said.
The Haryana Government and former State Sports Minister Sandeep Singh (a former ward in the team) have played their part. “The cash incentive of Rs 7 lakh for gold (Rs 5 lakh and 3 lakh for silver and bronze) per team member showed the Government’s intention to encourage players to even better efforts,” he revealed.

Haryana team

However, Sunil Malik throws light on challenges that the state’s hockey grapples with.

“Sangwan has achieved what he has despite the lack of encouragement by the Haryana Government,” the Hockey Haryana General Secretary said.

“We generate funds by ourselves by going out to industrialists for much-needed sponsorship,” Malik revealed. “Many of us put in money from our own pockets to help the cause,” he added.
“Also, we struggle without a proper artificial surface. The pitch at Sonepat where former international Pritam Rani runs an academy has to make do with a worn-out surface. Others at Umra and Hissar, run by Assad Malik, struggle on ‘chat’ grounds,” he said.
How then has Haryana excelled?

Malik puts it down to “a strong, fair, and unbiased selection committee comprising worthy members”. He also compliments the sports culture prevalent in the land. “The youngsters are strong and show intent to excel,” he said. “Sangwan ran his academy called the Har Academy in Sonepat when he was based there and had made some good contributions,” Malik said.

It showed in Goa where Haryana displayed skill and ability, grit, and determination to achieve the highest prize at the National Games. They braved tough opposition, not least in their opener against formidable Odisha who had a clutch of stars including Amit Rohidas, Shilanand Lakra, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Dipsan Tirkey, and Abhishek Ikka –internationals all.
“We led 3-1 but conceded two late goals to draw 3-3. That put pressure on us a bit because Maharashtra were another top side in the group. West Bengal and Delhi were the other teams in the group.
“To make it even tougher, we only managed 2-1 over Bengal despite dominating. Bengal lost 0-12 to Odisha and we lagged on goal difference.
“I told my boys that they should not fret over goal difference. I urged them to keep it simple and go for a win over Maharashtra. But the task was uphill. Maharashtra were bolstered by Yuvraj Walmiki, Amit Gowda, Suraj Karkare, Jugraj Singh, and Taleb Shah, all of whom donned the Indian colours.
But Haryana followed Sangwan’s advice and promptings. A 3-1 win over Maharashtra ensued. That was followed by a 5-1 rout of Delhi in the group’s concluding match, launching Haryana to pole position in the group. Maharashtra finished runners-up after beating much-vaunted Odisha 2-1.
In the semi-finals, Sangwan’s team took on Uttar Pradesh, a traditional force in Indian hockey. Raj Kumar Pal, Vishal Singh, Prashant Chauhan, Rahul Rajbhar, Ajit Pandey, Shivam Anand, Ajay Yadav, Faraaz Mohd, and Ketan Kushwaha gave Uttar Pradesh a formidable look but Sangwan’s gameplan held his team in good stead.

“We won 1-0 and it revealed the keynote of our triumph – discipline,” said a pleased Sangwan. “We scored in the 16th minute but stuck to our task of retaining our defensive structure for the remainder of the match. Of course, we showed a willingness to attack but played the half-court press to a plan and avoided errors in defence.”

Haryana’s adversaries in the final were Karnataka. The final step to glory meant overcoming the challenge presented by internationals in the ranks, including VR Raghunath, SV Sunil (captain), Nikkin Thimmaiah and S.K. Uthappa, Abhran Sudev, Manjeet, Mohd. Raheel and Sheshe Gowda.
In an entertaining final, Haryana prevailed 5-3. “The match was riveting and after we fell behind 0-1 we bounced back to take the lead and never surrender it till the end,” Sangwan said.
The players that stood out for Haryana? “India players Sanjay (defender), Abhishek, Sumit, Surender Kumar and junior players Pawan Kumar (goalkeeper), Mandeep Mour, and younger players such as Pankaj and Deepak sparkled,” Sangwan said.

Sangwan (c), Sumit (r) with Surender

Reflecting on a sensational campaign, the coach said he stressed discipline but was flexible. “I formulated the 80-20 plan with the boys. I demanded that they follow strategy 80% with 20% freedom to go by what they felt like executing,” he said.
Sangwan is now based in Ahmedabad, serving ONGC as Chief Manager, HR. His home is in Sonepat, Haryana. Much as he likes his job, he declares where his heart belongs. “Coaching the Haryana team,” he said without hesitation. “I hope that one day I could permanently be in a position to do the job I love dearly. But that would mean being based back home where I would be able to divert all my time and energy to take Haryana to greater heights,” Sangwan enthused.

SANGWAN FACTFILE
Sandeep Sangwan’s track record:
• Two Sr. National gold medals, 2011 (Bhopal) & 2022 (Bhopal) for Haryana

• Silver medal in 2017 Sr Men’s National Championship for Team Petroleum

• Jr Men’s National gold medal in 2011 (Pune), bronze medal in 2012 (Lucknow) & silver in 2018 (Bhopal) for Haryana

• Silver medal at Jr Women’s Nationals in 2019 (Kollam), Kerala

• Three silver medals in Hockey India 5’s Sr Men’s National Championships in Pune (2017 & 2018) and Bangalore (2019) for Haryana

• Gold medal in Mixed 5’s Sr National Championships at Kanpur (2020) for Haryana

• Bronze medal (2015), Kerala and gold medal (2023) Goa in National Games Men’s category for Haryana