Unity and determination helped India reach hockey quarterfinals in Paris: Olympian

Paris Paris:The Indian hockey team, which won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, suffered a blow when defender Amit Rohidas received a red card with three-quarters of the match remaining in the crucial quarter-final match against Great Britain. How did the team regroup, win the match and enter the semi-finals? A student asked this question to midfielder Shamsher Singh during an interaction with Olympians at Shiksha 'O' Anushand Deemed to be University (SOA) on Friday. “It was a big blow. It was difficult to play with one player less in an important match. But the team was united in the fight. We wanted to give our best and every player gave his best,” Shamsher Singh said after the match. -Replied, recalling India's spectacular 4-2 win in the tie-breaker after being eliminated by one.

Apart from Shamsher, fellow Olympians Jarmanpreet Singh, Raj Kumar Pal and international Varun Kumar took part in the conversation. These players have come here as members of the Delhi SG Pipers team to prepare for the Hockey India League (HIL) starting in Rourkela on December 28. The players were given a warm welcome by a large number of students and faculty members who had gathered to interact with the hockey stars. SOA Vice Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda greeted the players, while Dean (Student Welfare) Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das conducted the program. Renowned sports journalist and currently Vice President, Sports and Media, SG Sports, Media and Entertainment, Mr. Digvijay Singh Deo, who accompanied the players and covered the match in Paris, said that after Amit was given the red card, Did not think that India would win this match. “But the boys gave their best performance and it was the best match played by India in the tournament,” he said.

Versatile midfielder Raj Kumar Pal said that the players always supported each other. “We have team meetings where we discuss matters and support each other,” he said. Varun Kumar, who served a two-year ban after failing a dope test as a junior Indian player, was asked how he dealt with the setback. He said, “I was deeply hurt by the allegations leveled against me, but my family stood by me. I was able to deal with this situation because I kept myself motivated. I did not lose courage.”

He further added, “I was obsessed with getting my Indian complexion back.” Varun Kumar said that while there was obviously more support for sports like cricket, hockey has once again sparked people's imagination after the Indian team won consecutive bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and the Paris Games in 2024. . “We need your support. Hockey needs your support,” he said. In response to a question, Raj Kumar Pal said, “If you concentrate on something, you will get success.” In his address, the Vice Chancellor described the hockey stars as the 'pride of the country'. Jarmanpreet urged the students to watch HIL matches starting from December 28 and support Delhi SG Pipers.

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