Just 18, and Gurjinder Singh is already a crorepati

He’s just turned 18, and he’s already a crorepati. Gurjinder Singh, of Chandigarh Comets, played a big role in his team’s entry into the semifinals of the Bridgestone World Series Hockey, which concluded in Mumbai on Monday.

The baby-faced drag-flicker scored 19 goals to become the joint top-scorer of the WSH with Pakistan’s Imran Warsi, who played for Chennai Cheetahs. Comets, though, lost to Pune Strykers in the semifinals on Sunday, which, incidentally, was Gurjinder’s 18th birthday.

The Chandigarh boy, who was the junior India captain before joining the WSH, admits he never thought he would make it to the top-scorer’s list. “Credit goes to my teammates for setting up the penalty-corners,” said Gurjinder, who, coincidentally, sports No. 19 on his Comets jersey.

Gurjinder practices about 150-200 drag-flicks about three times a week at the academy in Chandigarh. “I have wonderful role models in Jugraj Singh and Sandeep Singh. I often pester them to part with some trade secrets. They have always been very helping.”

Gurjinder was sad that Comets lost to Strykers in the semifinals. “I would have preferred a victory as my birthday gift. But Pune fought back really well,” he said.

Pune, trailing 1-4 till the final quarter in that game, staged a spirited fightback to force a penalty shootout which they won to make the final.