India’s new drag-flick hope wants to take his game to new heights

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.

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.

“We players, along with coaches, have to work very hard after our Olympic disappointment,” he says, pricking at the scar that hurts across the length and breadth of Indian hockey. “It is our collective responsibility to bring hockey back to where it was,” he says, adding, “I keep that in mind when I go about my repetitive routine.”

A silver medallist at junior events in Malaysia and Singapore and a camp regular, Rupinder looks back on the day Pathania told him how his strength could be an asset for any team with the drag-flick. “My height was a gift, how I put it to use and how much hard work I put in will decide my future,” he insists.