Born in the outskirts of Amritsar to a family of farmers, Harmanpreet Singh used to get on his father’s tractor whenever he got a chance. During his holidays, he used to help his family on the farm. The hockey player firmly believes that farming helped him build strength and endurance.
He started playing hockey at the age of 10. At the time, Harmanpreet did not think about making it a career or taking it up seriously. But as time went by, he got more serious about it and his father supported his passion to pursue the sport. He joined Surjit Hockey Academy when he was 15, thinking he would become a forward. But something else was in store for him.
He caught the attention of the scouts during his junior national camps and tournaments for his performance both as a defender and a drag-flicker. He then moved into the Indian junior team, thanks to his consistent form and natural fitness.
It was during his debut in the Sultan Johar Cup in Malaysia (2014) that his defending skills were on full display. His stupendous performances against Australia, England and Malaysia helped India lift the trophy, and he was adjudged the player of the tournament. Furthermore, he was named in the Indian squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Despite being a defender, he has a knack of scoring goals.
Harmanpreet is excited to be back on the field after a break of five months and is looking forward to perform better in the forthcoming matches. Here is what the 24-year-old has to say about his journey and what he expects in the future.
How has your journey as a hockey player been?
I think I was about 10 when I picked up the hockey stick for the first time. I had watched some children in my school play. Although I was interested in other sports like football and cricket, hockey was something that was close to my heart. So, I decided to take it up seriously. My family was very supportive at the time and let me join for coaching. I can say I had a good journey but initially I did have my share of struggles. I had to go away from my family when I joined the academy and I was very homesick. I used to keep saying that it is hard and that I wanted to go back home. But my parents kept on encouraging me through that season of training. One has to definitely sacrifice a lot.
An injury that you distinctly remember.
It was just before the Junior Nationals in Chennai that I had a shoulder injury. But I was quick to take treatment and got it fixed before the match. I got help from my trainers at the academy and they made sure I bounced back in full power. In fact, I played quite well and was the top scorer.
What is that one attribute that every hockey player should have?
I strongly feel that all hockey players need to have self-belief. Without self-belief, it is difficult to succeed.
What is a position that you would not want to play?
Goalkeeper! It takes a lot of concentration. I tried it once or twice during my initial days on the field. I lost count of the number of times I got hit by the ball.
What are your strengths?
I play well in all four positions as a defender. I am also good at man-to-man marking. Both my left and right hands are equally strong.
What are your thoughts on matches without spectators?
The crowd supports a lot and their energy energises us. But sometimes, the noise does not let us communicate well. I think without the crowd, we would be able to talk to each other better during the match. During practice sessions, we don’t have any spectators and during that time all of us have clarity on what one is saying to the other. I think we will have the same clarity during tournaments without an audience.
What was your lockdown regimen like?
The good thing that happened during the past five months was the coaching staff, particularly our scientific adviser, kept a close watch on our fitness and diet. Even when we were on a break, we had a schedule to follow. Hockey India has been monitoring our fitness throughout the lockdown and I think these factors helped us bounce back in a better way when we got on the field.
Your message to aspiring hockey players.
Work hard, keep a target, maintain your fitness and be disciplined.
What are your favourite exercises?
Drag-flicking exercise and tackling on the field, and lunges, squats, burpees and stride jumps as home workouts.
What food do you enjoy eating the most?
I love home-cooked food. I love having chicken in different Indian variations like curry and roast. I eat a lot of vegetables, too, as it provides several benefits to the body. I avoid sweets.
Who is your inspiration?
Former Indian field hockey player Jugraj Singh and Rupinder Pal, who is one of the best drag flickers in the world right now.