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Proud to be a part of a era that witnessed Indian hockey’s resurgence, former captain Sardar Singh says his sole remorse in an in any other case illustrious profession just isn’t successful an Olympic medal for his nation. However, he feels the present crew underneath Manpreet Singh has the potential to interrupt the four-decade-old jinx in Tokyo subsequent 12 months. “My journey in hockey has been rather satisfying because I was part of that era which saw a resurgence. We came a long way from finishing last at the London Olympics in 2012 to being ranked No.6 in the world when I hung up my boots in 2018.”
“Now, the present crew is poised at no.four which ought to positively convey plenty of confidence to this crew within the lead as much as their Tokyo Olympic marketing campaign,” mentioned Sardar.
The Indian crew has a wealthy Olympic historical past, successful an unprecedented eight gold apart from a silver and two bronze medals. India’s final success on the quadrennial sporting extravaganza, although, got here 40 years in the past within the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the place they gained the final of their eight gold medals.
“Having played 314 international matches, I will always regret not being able to add an Olympic medal on the wall back home. But watching this team grow from strength to strength in the past year and the way they played the FIH Hockey Pro League earlier this year, I have great hope that they can bag that elusive Olympic medal”.
“They definitely have a realistic chance in Tokyo,” mentioned Sardar in a Hockey India launch. With the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games being postponed by a 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sardar feels the Indian crew will get a while to work on its gray areas and unearth new expertise.
“They have the time to build on the new talent that is available. Some of the youngsters like Rajkumar, Dilpreet, Vivek Sagar, Gursahib have shown great promise and trying them in big-match scenarios like the Pro League was a good decision by chief coach Graham Reid”.
“With the Olympics being postponed, we have the time to work on our short-comings. Converting chances continues to be one of the grey areas but I feel we have been finishing much better than we were two or three years ago.”
Sardar suggested the Indian gamers to not lose their focus amid the present world well being disaster, which has halted sporting actions the world over.
“For now, I understand these are trying times for all sportspersons in India with the COVID-19 pandemic posing several challenges to the Olympic preparations but my advice to the Indian hockey core probables, men and women, is to remain focused on their goal,” mentioned the 34-year-old from Sirsa in Haryana.
“Playing in the Olympics for India should be the single most motivating factor for each and every athlete and they must channelise their efforts to be the best they can be ahead of the Tokyo Games.”
On a private observe, Sardar handpicked the 2014 Asian Games gold, the place they beat arch-rivals Pakistan to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, because the stand-out second of his 12-year profession.
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“Looking back at my career that spanned over a decade, there have been some very memorable matches. Leading the Indian team to the 2014 Asian Games Gold, the first in 16 years, will always be on top of that list not just because it was historic and beating Pakistan in a final is always an icing on the cake”.
“This win set off a new beginning for the Indian men’s hockey team. In 2014, we were on the cusp of greater things to come and there was no looking back,” he added.
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