Gagan set for comeback

Kusum Arora

Former Indian hockey stalwart and ace striker Gagan Ajit Singh is all set to make a comeback to the sport as he will be playing for the Sher-e-Punjab team in the World Series Hockey (WSH) starting from February 29. The WSH is being jointly held by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus, the official sponsor of the series. WSH would see eight hockey teams with players from foreign teams as well in action.

Gagan Ajit, who is all geared up to attend the WSH training camp beginning from tomorrow at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park was excited sharing this news. Talking to The Tribune, the Arjuna awardee player said, “It is both choice and chance which coupled together and I became a part of the first season of the WSH”.

He also added that he was looking forward to the WSH series as it gave him a chance to make a comeback to his passion. “WSH is a good beginning for hockey and I am excited to play for the Sher-e-Punjab team. We begin our camp tomorrow morning and I am looking forward to it”, he said.

An efficient striker, he always remained in the limelight owing to his fine striking skills and the capacity to outwit the opposition defence with deft stick-work.

It is after a long gap that Gagan Ajit will play on the big stage, post his joining the Punjab Police. It is pertinent to mention here that Gagan Ajit remained the captain of the Indian team that had won Junior World Cup in 2001. He made his debut in international hockey in 1997 in a Test series against Russia. He also played at the Sydney Olympics 2000 and Athens Olympics in 2004.

He is the son of Ajit Singh, a veteran Indian hockey player who had represented the India in the Munich Olympic Games 1972 and Montreal Olympic Games 1976.