Emotional, proud homecoming for hockey heroes

The scoresheet after India’s opening game of the Asian Champions Trophy here listed three goals against experienced striker Mandeep Singh. The man who had stepped on to the field earlier that day, however, was Lalli.

That’s what Mandeep’s friends and family call him. They were all in attendance at the Olympian Surjit Singh stadium on Tuesday, watching him play in an India jersey on home ground for the first time ever. Fourteen years after he made the national team as an 18-year-old, Mandeep returned to the turf where he learnt to hold a hockey stick, this time as a two-time Olympic medalist.

“Ghar me, gharwalon ke samne khelna kya hota hai, I can’t express in words. It’s just a very special, very proud feeling right now. It started the moment I entered the building and watching the crowd in the stands. There is nothing I can say to actually describe it. I have played for the country for 14 years and this is the first time I am doing so in my own state, on the ground where I picked up a hockey stick, in front of my family,” a visibly teary and emotional Mandeep told The Hindu.

Mandeep was one of the five players from the academy to take the field; Manpreet Singh, the most famous one, missed out with an injury even though his family was present in the stands. “It’s sad that Manpreet couldn’t play but that’s what the doctors advised. But we are here for the whole India team,” his wife Illi said.

Every player in this team, in fact, will be playing international hockey in Punjab for the first time ever — the last time the state hosted a tournament was the Gold Cup in 2009, in Chandigarh. Harmanpreet Singh was excited about having his family see him play live in a stadium for the first time. “We have played in all the major cities across the world but nothing matches returning home. This is a very special homecoming for all of us,” he admitted.

It might just become even more special for the Indian captain — he is now just five shy of becoming the country’s second highest goalscorer and four adrift of legendary Balbir Singh Sr’s 246 goals.

Dilpreet, the youngest from the academy, had his own vocal support group of kids from his village in Batala, holding up his posters. “My parents keep asking me when is the tournament beginning, when can we come; they even want to come and watch me in training sessions,” said Dilpreet.

Goalkeeper Krishan Pathak and Jarmanpreet Singh are the other two from the academy. The one common factor in their narratives is the importance of heroes and watching them live on the domestic circuit, and the importance of domestic events themselves.

“I watched Jugraj Singh play for Punjab Police here,” Harmanpreet gushed. “I was inspired by watching Sardar and Sandeep Singh during domestic competitions,” Mandeep added.

As international hockey returns to Punjab, one hopes they inspire another generation to continue the state and the city’s connect with the sport.

India to take on China

India, meanwhile, will take on China in its second game of the tournament while Malaysia takes on Korea and Bangladesh plays Japan on Thursday. Despite the overall dominance against Bangladesh, India had its usual slow start post half time and coach Craig Fulton admitted it was something that needed work, regardless of the opposition.

“We found a way in the first half and that set the platform. The third quarter wasn’t so good, it was a bit slow. And then I’m glad we finished strong in the fourth quarter. I think some teams struggle with it. Our tendency is to just have a slow third quarter and that’s not ideal because it also depends on what the score is going into half-time. When it’s 6-0, it’s not helpful. But that’s our challenge. Yes, and we’ve got to try and focus on getting better at that,” Fulton agreed.

“We have to set a standard, and we try and get the same tempo in all four quarters. We do that first, second, not third. And then picked it up in the fourth,” he added.