Dragflick Newsdesk : Sardar Singh doesn’t have any teaching expertise and neither has he skilled for the job, however the former nationwide hockey captain believes his 12-year worldwide expertise will probably be sufficient to make sure that he will get one of the best out of the India ‘A’ crew, which is able to compete within the Birmingham Commonwealth Video games this yr.
Sardar and ex-striker Deepak Thakur have been named coaches of the Indian males’s and ladies’s ‘A’ hockey groups respectively which is able to participate within the upcoming Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham.
“It’s clearly a problem for me however having performed the sport on the highest degree for thus a few years, I’ve confidence that I can ship outcomes. It’s an honour and privilege for me to get an opportunity to present again to the sport which gave me my id,” Sardar Singh.
This was after Hockey India determined in opposition to sending the primary squads for the multi-sport occasion as a result of quick turnaround between CWG and the Hangzhou Asian Video games, which is a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 2 occasions will probably be held simply 32 days aside and the nationwide federation desires to maintain its first-choice gamers contemporary for the Asian Video games. Sardar is eagerly trying ahead to his new “difficult” project.
“I don’t have any teaching expertise however I’ve guided budding gamers whereas enjoying membership hockey in Netherlands and Germany. Having performed the sport for near 13 years I do know my expertise will probably be key,” stated the previous mid-fielder, who retired from worldwide hockey in 2018.
In a shock growth, Tokyo Olympic bronze-medallist duo of Rupinder Pal Singh and Birender Lakra in addition to veteran ahead SV Sunil returned from retirement and have been named among the many males’s 33 crore probables to be eligible for choice for the Birmingham CWG crew.
The trio had retired in fast succession simply after the Tokyo Olympics final yr.
Sardar, who performed alongside facet the trio, feels their suggestions will play a vital position within the Indian crew’s success in Birmingham.
“It’s nice that I’ll get to work with some senior gamers like Rupinder, Lakra and Sunil. They’ve loads of worldwide expertise. Rupinder and Lakra are Olympic medallist and Sunil is a world-class striker.
“They know what it takes to succeed on the high degree and may share their experiences with the junior gamers,” he stated.
“I’ll positively take their suggestions whereas working with the boys.” Each the Indian males’s and ladies’s A’ groups have reported to the nationwide camp on the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
Sardar, himself a health freak, who as soon as beat Virat Kohli within the yo-yo take a look at in 2018, stated there could be no compromises on this space, which is a key component of fast-paced modern-day hockey.
“Health is one thing which I received’t compromise on. Regardless of retiring almost 4 years in the past I nonetheless observe a strict health routine. Health is essential for fulfillment in any sport within the current day and in world hockey, there is no such thing as a scope for unfit gamers.
“You possibly can see the present Indian senior hockey crew which is likely one of the fittest on the earth and their onerous work through the years have resulted within the bronze medal in Tokyo,” stated the 2014 Incheon Asian Video games gold medal-winning participant.
