Prabhjot, Deepak to turn out for Karnataka in National hockey

Aby Jose

BANGALORE: Forward Prabhjot Singh will represent a new team in the upcoming Hockey India Senior men’s Nationals but the veteran international is keen on being his usual self in the tournament starting at Bhopal this week.

The Chandigarh-based player was named in the Karnataka squad for the first edition of the Nationals organized by Hockey Karnataka, thanks to his Bangalore-based employer Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

Prabhjot will have his long-time companion at IOCL and fellow frontliner Deepak Thakur for company in the Karnataka side, captained by Amar Aiyamma.

Explaining the rationale behind his decision to choose the South Indian state, Prabhjot said: “There are around four-five players in IOCL who are from Karnataka. So I thought it would be better to team up with my regular mates on the field. It is a well-balanced side and that should work as an advantage for the team and make us competitive enough to beat any other side in the event.”

Prabhjot has represented his home state Punjab in the Nationals during his school days before moving to IOCL and was the domestic giant’s lynchpin for years together. This is the first time the forward has picked Karnataka or say another state as his team in the Nationals.

With the Nationals doubling up as a selection tournament ahead of the national team’s upcoming Champions Trophy and Olympic qualifiers assignments, Prabhjot is optimistic of returning to the elite circuit. “The selectors should pick the national team on the basis of performance in the Nationals and the current form augurs well for me. I was named the best forward in the last month’s All-India Obaidullah Gold Cup tournament in Bhopal,” stated the 30-year-old, who made his international debut a decade ago and last played for India in the 2010 World Cup on home turf.

Prabhjot in all likelihood will take up his customary position on the left flank for Karnataka and the 2008 Arjuna awardee has a point to prove, particularly on the fitness front.

“I was invited to play league in Malaysia and top-scored there. It is a competitive league and one cannot emerge top-scorer without maintaining high level of fitness. I am ready to return to the national team now. As a senior player who has fought for the players off the field and fought for the country on it, someone should tell me my grey areas if I am continued to be excluded from the national side,” said Prabhjot, who will be joining the team directly at the venue.