Indian males’s hockey staff midfielder Neelkant Sharma hopes his contribution to the nation’s bronze medal-winning feat on the Tokyo Olympics will encourage a era of youth from his dwelling state of Manipur to take up the game professionally.
Neelkanth was a key contingent in India’s midfield in Tokyo, the place the nation ended a 41-year-old Olympic medal drought.
Before Tokyo, India’s final medal – a gold – got here on the 1980 Moscow Games.
“Definitely there is a lot of potential for Manipur Hockey to grow. A lot of good things are happening in the state and emphasis is being laid on building good infrastructure. I hope my performance in Tokyo inspires more youth of my state to take up hockey,” the 26-year-old stated in a Hockey India launch.
Promoted to the senior ranks in 2017 a 12 months after successful the FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow, Neelkanth believes that the important thing to a participant’s success is steady enchancment.
He is focusing on extra accolades subsequent 12 months.
“I’ve had a while to introspect about my very own efficiency with the senior staff over time. I believe I’ve been very lucky to have performed with a number of the greatest gamers in India and realized lots from them.
“I always like to keep things simple and execute what is expected of me. Each player is assigned a certain role by the coach and I just try to stick to that,” he stated.
“I imagine there’s numerous scope for me to enhance my sport from right here and keep on with this efficiency in Tokyo. Winning a bronze medal was a completely unbelievable feeling. “
On a break after success in Tokyo, Neelkanth is wanting ahead to regrouping along with his teammates on the SAI middle in Bengaluru when the nationwide camp begins subsequent month.
“Now we are going to sit as a staff and analyze our efficiency within the Olympics. I personally like these staff conferences as a result of everybody contributes and has their very own concepts.
“We discuss what works for us as a team and what doesn’t. Also, there is a lot to learn from the leadership group which includes senior players,” he stated.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
