| Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi India has a very good chance to go a long way at the Tokyo Olympics, feels hockey defender Jarmanpreet Singh.”I think everyone is really excited for what is to come for Indian hockey in the next few years. I want to make sure that I am part of the team when we go out there and win medals” the 24- year old defender told Hockey India in Bengaluru Being a realistic he however added that but before that, just like the rest of the sporting world, I am also hopeful that the mega-event goes ahead as planned.””I believe that Hockey India has done an exceptional job to provide a platform to players like myself, and I want to repay their support by giving my best on the field’ he said Jarmanpreet Singh came into the Senior Team set-up in 2018, and in his debut tournament, wore a Silver Medal around his neck as India finished second behind Australia at the s Champions Trophy 2018 held in Breda, The Netherlands.The energetic Defender went on to win a Gold Medal with the Senior Team in only his second tournament at the Senior level as India were jointly crowned the Champions of the Asian Champions Trophy 2018 in Muscat, Oman. , “I have had the privilege of representing my country at the highest level, and have also won medals, so it gives me real joy. My aim always is to try to do my best for the team, and to make sure that I am following what my coaches are asking me to do – because I know if I am able to do those things, we will be really successful as a team.””When I look back at the career I’ve had with the Senior Team, I feel really proud because there is so much competition in our team that it’s not easy to get into the final 18 squad. However, to have played in four amazing tournaments including the Olympic Test Event in 2019, and the FIH Hockey Pro League in 2020, I feel really blessed and motivated to keep doing the right things. I understand that only the best can represent the team, and I want to earn that right to be in the team consistently by performing well.” he added He is o mindful of the fact that he will need to maintain the consistency on the field. “I was delighted with the way the FIH Hockey Pro League campaign was going for me before the pandemic struck. I felt I had decent outings against the World Champions, and I was really looking forward to the next few games, but now it is just about taking it day-by-day here at the National Camp. I feel now our focus has had to shift to maintaining our rhythm and our fitness. But the best thing is that we have also managed to get together, brainstorm and build a clear path towards what we want to achieve in the next few years as a team,” he concluded. |