It was in Mumbai two summers ago that Ramesh Pathania, the Premier Hockey League coach, called Rupinder Pal Singh aside and asked him to give the drag-flick a serious try. Two years on, standing tall — literally at 6’3”, and performance-wise as well — at the ongoing inter-academies tournament here, the 19-year-old Singh, nicknamed Bob by his Springdale Academy team mates, looks a talent who will hit the headlines sooner than later.

Rupinder is former India international Gagan Ajit Singh’s first cousin, and picked up the hockey stick after watching the senior in his family rise to international acclaim through the last decade. But what marks him out on the juniors-scape is his potential as a tall and sturdy full-back, his tactical sense, and the fast strides he has been taking as a drag-flicker over the last two years.

He has also benefitted from occasional tips from Sandeep Singh and Len Aiyappa at pre-tournament camps and had a month-long stint under Jugraj Singh. After Raghunath and Diwakar Ram, who do duty for India now, the next rung to be groomed can be extended to include this promising youngster.

“There’s lots to improve — his technique can always be perfected, and some of his clearances are suspect. But there’s no denying that he’s one to watch out for in the next two-three years. With his physique, he could be moulded into a world-beater,” says former international Edgar Mascarenhas Sr.

Work in progress

Rupinder himself knows there’s a lot of work to be done. “Gagan keeps telling me if I don’t improve my pace and footwork, I won’t get anywhere,” he admits, elaborating on his training-schedule, which is heavy on skipping to get the feet moving. Having moved to Chandigarh two years ago, he has made 150 repetitions of the drag-flick a routine, though the Sher-e-Jalandhar player accepts it’ll be at least another two years before he can come into serious reckoning.

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