MARGAO: Former India hockey captain Sandeep Singh said that Indian hockey was in safe hands. Sandeep was speaking to media persons at the Bloomz International school in Nuvem on Friday morning, after he had interacted with the school’s students, teachers and parents in a function jointly organised by the Margao Youth Round Table and the Bloomz International school.
Heaping praise on India hockey coach Harendra Singh, Sandeep said, “I have played and worked with Harendra for 15 years and know him very well. He is a very efficient and hardworking coach. The Indian team is a strong side and will do well under his guidance in the forthcoming Asian Games.”
Sandeep said that he was keen to pursue a career in hockey coaching himself and expressed his desire to work at the grassroots level.
Sandeep Singh’s hockey career is a rare mix of tragedy and triumph. On August 21, 2006 Sandeep was grievously injured after suffering an accidental gunshot on the Shatabdi Express, just two days before he was to travel for the Hockey World Cup.
Despite being wheel-chair bound for two years thereafter, Sandeep miraculously made a comeback into the Indian hockey team and even captained the side to win the Azlan Shah Cup after a gap of 13 years in the year 2009. He was also the top goal scorer in that tournament.
The movie, Soorma, a biopic on Sandeep’s roller-coaster life is slated for a nationwide release on July 13.
Speaking about the film, in his address to the students, teachers and parents in the school auditorium, Sandeep said, “There was no way I was going to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. I was determined to get back to the hockey field.”
Sandeep also expressed his deep gratitude to his older brother Bikramjeet Singh and his family members for supporting him through this crisis. “When you watch the film, you will realise how important, family love and support is to a sportsperson,” Sandeep told the audience.
Sandeep asked the school children to keep away from junk food. “You must eat healthy food and exercise regularly to keep fit and healthy,” Sandeep said. He encouraged the students to pursue sports and studies with equal enthusiasm and choose a career of their choice.
