Indian hockey team gets rousing welcome at Spring Dale School by ex-Olympians

Members of the Indian hockey team received a thumping welcome by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy team and management of Spring Dale School on Friday. Celebrating another triumph of the Indian hockey team, which recently won against China in the Asian Championship, the members comprising former hockey Olympians and sports enthusiasts from city heaped praises on their performance, who have recently surprised many with their unbeaten performance on the field.

The Indian hockey team captain, Harmanpreet Singh, credited the team’s smashing performance to the fans and lovers of the sport. “There has been a different energy in the team and all 33 players have managed remain on a same wavelength, where we only focus on improving the game and our contribution on field. This has happened because, we have received a lot of support from fans and in terms of infrastructure, with amazing support staff and training modules,” said Harmanpreet.

He admitted that the pressure to uplift the game, support it on and off field remained on each player. “However, things are definitely changing as more people are associating with the game and watching us play. It’s a huge boost,” he said.

Jugraj Singh, the hero of Asian Champions Trophy finals and other members, including Hockey India president and former Indian hockey player, Padam Shri Dilip Tirkey, was also present.

Other members of the team, Ramandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh, Dilpreet Singh and international hockey player Araijit Singh Hundal, were also present. Former Olympians Balwinder Singh Shammi, Jugraj Singh and senior hockey coach Kuljit Singh Bumrah praised the current team for their performance.

Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, chairman of Spring Dale Educational Society, remembered his late parents, Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Manveen Sandhu, for their passion to promote the sports as an instrument for youth empowerment. “It was the sheer passion for sports of late Dr Sandhu and Manveen Sandhu that formed the base of the untiring efforts to restore the pride of the national game and reviving the sport of hockey in the border belt. Their dream became a reality as young talent nurtured at Spring Dale Senior School blossomed into national and international level hockey players, including the Olympians who made the nation proud by their performance,” said Sandhu.

Kirat Sandhu Cheema, director, Spring Dale Educational Society expressed their commitment to promoting the love for hockey.