Sole focus on game, says Sandeep Singh

Sudhanshu Bisen, TNN

NAGPUR: At 25, the man has seen shining days and dark nights. He has hit his highs, reigned supreme and then banged into rough patches.

Sandeep Singh, India’s ace drag-flicker, might have a changed attitude towards certain things in life, yet the rush of adrenaline to perform well hasn’t died down one little bit. A day after Hockey India revoked the two-year ban imposed upon him, Sandeep was all geared up to bury the past and start afresh.

“There’s no point sulking for what has happened in the past. The wiser thing would be to focus on the forthcoming important assignments. I know revocation of ban was a huge sigh of relief since the last couple of months were one of the worst phases for me.

I have submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee that they can ban us in future if we repeat such things and I think it’s a closed matter now. I am not one of those who would sit back and ponder over his mistakes.

I have buried the past. My sole focus in on the game and doing well in the forthcoming tournaments is the only thing running on my mind right now,” said Sandeep Singh after he joined the rest of the team for the ongoing national camp in Bangalore on Thursday.

On weather his addition will be a boost to the team ahead of the Olympic qualifiers, Sandeep said: “No player is big or small. Any player, who is in a national team, is their because he deserves to be. However, I do feel my addition will bring a certain amount of experience in the squad.”

Sandeep, along with Sardar Singh, was banned for repeatedly indulging in indiciplinary acts after he midway quit the national camp ahead of Asian Champion’ Trophy which India went on to win.

However, Sandeep isn’t regretting not being part of the team which made history. “I am happy that the younger bunch of guys did well.

Of course, I would have loved to be a part of the team but what matters is that we did well and emerged champions. The mood in the camp is pretty good right now and I am sure we will carry the same in the future tournaments,” he concluded.