Sardar Singh Says India Have “Realistic Chance” Of Winning A Medal In Tokyo Olympics

Happy to be part of a technology that witnessed Indian hockey’s resurgence, former captain Sardar Singh suggests his sole regret in an otherwise illustrious occupation is not successful an Olympic medal for his country. Having said that, he feels the recent crew below Manpreet Singh has the likely to crack the 4-decade-outdated jinx in Tokyo subsequent calendar year. “My journey in hockey has been instead gratifying mainly because I was part of that era which saw a resurgence. We came a very long way from ending very last at the London Olympics in 2012 to remaining rated No.6 in the entire world when I hung up my boots in 2018.”

“Now, the recent crew is poised at no.four which should really unquestionably provide a great deal of self confidence to this crew in the guide up to their Tokyo Olympic campaign,” stated Sardar.

The Indian crew has a loaded Olympic background, successful an unprecedented 8 gold other than a silver and two bronze medals. India’s very last results at the quadrennial sporting extravaganza, although, came forty a long time back in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, wherever they received the very last of their 8 gold medals.

“Owning performed 314 international matches, I will usually regret not remaining able to incorporate an Olympic medal on the wall back again property. But observing this crew develop from strength to strength in the previous calendar year and the way they performed the FIH Hockey Pro League before this calendar year, I have fantastic hope that they can bag that elusive Olympic medal”.

“They unquestionably have a practical opportunity in Tokyo,” stated Sardar in a Hockey India launch. With the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games remaining postponed by a calendar year mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sardar feels the Indian crew will get some time to perform on its grey locations and unearth new expertise.

“They have the time to make on the new expertise that is out there. Some of the kids like Rajkumar, Dilpreet, Vivek Sagar, Gursahib have revealed fantastic promise and hoping them in significant-match scenarios like the Pro League was a great decision by main coach Graham Reid”.

“With the Olympics remaining postponed, we have the time to perform on our shorter-comings. Converting likelihood carries on to be just one of the grey locations but I feel we have been ending considerably far better than we ended up two or 3 a long time back.”

Sardar advised the Indian players not to lose their concentrate amid the recent world wide wellness crisis, which has halted sporting routines across the entire world.

“For now, I have an understanding of these are hoping periods for all sportspersons in India with the COVID-19 pandemic posing numerous worries to the Olympic preparations but my assistance to the Indian hockey main probables, adult men and women of all ages, is to continue being concentrated on their intention,” stated the 34-calendar year-outdated from Sirsa in Haryana.

“Playing in the Olympics for India should really be the single most motivating factor for every and every athlete and they need to channelise their endeavours to be the finest they can be ahead of the Tokyo Games.”

On a own observe, Sardar handpicked the 2014 Asian Games gold, wherever they defeat arch-rivals Pakistan to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, as the stand-out minute of his 12-calendar year occupation.

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“Wanting back again at my occupation that spanned around a decade, there have been some very memorable matches. Foremost the Indian crew to the 2014 Asian Games Gold, the 1st in sixteen a long time, will usually be on top rated of that record not just mainly because it was historic and beating Pakistan in a last is usually an icing on the cake”.

“This win set off a new beginning for the Indian men’s hockey crew. In 2014, we ended up on the cusp of larger things to arrive and there was no seeking back again,” he included.