Resilience and family support thawed the toughest phase of Sukhjeet Singh’s life after he bounced back from a major back injury that he incurred six years ago to now securing a spot in Men’s Hockey Team at Olympics.
Back from the brink, Sukhjeet Singh now eyes dream Olympic debut but, six years ago, a back injury had left his right leg temporarily paralysed.
He overcame the "toughest" phase of his life to earn a spot in the Olympic-bound Indian men's hockey squad and is determined to prove his worth in the Games beginning July 26.
The 28-year-old forward who will be competing in his maiden Olympics, said in a press release, “playing in the Olympics has always been a dream for me and my family. It's the pinnacle of any athlete's career, and I am honored to have this opportunity."
The bell curve of his motivational journey seems to have met the expectations however it wasn’t all dreamy back in 2018 when Sukhjeet was included in core probables camp for the senior team. But, a freak back injury resulted in temporary paralysis of his right leg, putting his dream on hold.
"That period was one of the toughest times of my life. Being bedridden for almost five months was physically and mentally draining. I couldn't walk, let alone play hockey, and even the simplest tasks like eating by myself became impossible," Singh recalled
"Each day felt like my dream of playing hockey was slipping further away, and it was incredibly disheartening," he recalled.
Right after recovering from the injury, Sukhjeet donned the coveted blue jersey in FIH Pro League season. In his debut tournament in 2021-22 FIH Pro League season, his performance was no less than a spectacle when he scored 20 goals in 70 matches for the country against Spain.
Sukhjeet mentioning his family spoke about his father’s “unwavering support” and how it kept him going at a time when he felt like “giving up.”
“His refusal to let me lose hope was crucial in helping me get back on my feet. His determination to see me back on the field was infectious, and it gave me the strength to push through the pain and challenges," he said.
Speaking on the rewarding journey he has had past year he said, "The last two years have been incredibly rewarding for me.”
As in 2023, he played a key role in FIH Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, striking three goals in six games.
He was also a part of the gold-medal winning teams at the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai and the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
And, contributed significantly in the FIH Hockey Pro League, netting five goals, he mentioned, “Every match has been a learning experience, pushing me to improve and contribute more to the team’s success," he said.
Sukhjeet who is playing hockey from the age of six will now be living his dream said, "My focus is now entirely on the Paris Olympics, and I am determined to give my best performance to help our team achieve the highest honors."
His ability to make defence passes and his speed will be two most important game strategies to note in the Paris games in which he is eyeing to win.
For India, Paris campaign will initiate on July 27 with a game against New Zealand in its first pool B match.
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