“If you are taking the shortcut, Pakistan is simply 1km from our home. So from a really younger age, we have now stayed away from shortcuts.”
Sarabjit Singh is describing the place India’s ‘quickest drag-flicker’, Jugraj Singh, calls dwelling. But the assertion additionally captures his youthful brother’s lengthy street to the nationwide workforce.
Attari is basically identified for 2 issues: because the final Indian station on the rail route connecting Delhi and Lahore; and the flag-lowering ceremony on the Wagah-Attari crossing. In fast succession, although, the tiny village in Amritsar has produced two nationwide workforce gamers. The first was ahead Shamsher Singh, who gained an Olympic bronze in Tokyo. On Tuesday, Jugraj – a flexible participant who can play the roles of centre-half, full-back and drag-flicker – is about to make his debut when India face France of their opening FIH Pro League match of the season.
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— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 7, 2022
Son of a coolie who labored on the border, Jugraj grew up in environment the place his household lived in a relentless state of concern. “It’s the uncertainty, more than anything else,” his mom Paramjit Kaur says. “On most days, nothing would occur. One may by no means say, nonetheless, when chaos would substitute calm.”
During skirmishes on the border, the household could be compelled to vacate their dwelling and search refuge elsewhere. There have been occasions when shells would fly over; and sometimes, a boundary wall would get demolished by a mortar hurled from throughout the border, as occurred just a few years in the past.
The scenario has been ‘okay’ in the previous couple of years. It’s the 25-year-old Jugraj who has now solid a repute for launching cannonball-like drag-flicks. It’s the rationale he obtained a call-up for the nationwide workforce, in actual fact.
Tinge of nostalgia
“He is India’s fastest drag-flicker at the moment,” proclaims Ajay Kumar, the coach of the Indian Navy, for whom Jugraj performs on the home circuit. “His velocity was checked on the final nationwide camp. I’m not conscious of the precise velocity, however I used to be instructed his flicks have been the quickest.”
There’ll absolutely be a tinge of nostalgia when Jugraj takes the sector, particularly if he traces up for a penalty nook. In 2001, the ‘unique’ Jugraj Singh of Indian hockey made his worldwide debut whereas nonetheless in his teenagers. A crack drag-flicker, who stood out not simply due to the checkered bandana he wore but in addition due to his stick-skills, velocity and bravado, Jugraj’s profession was minimize quick in 2003 after a life-threatening street accident.
Nineteen years later, a participant with the identical identify and key attribute is about to make his maiden India look. And like Jugraj senior, his namesake, too, took his first severe steps on the hockey area at an academy in Jalandhar.
“Attari is a small place and we are a family with very limited resources. So, to become successful, there’s no choice but to move out,” says Sarabjit. More so, as a result of Jugraj didn’t develop up in hockey-crazy environment.
Jugraj, Sarabjit says, was round 4 years outdated when he first picked up a hockey stick at a floor close to their home, the place just a few village boys performed. He obtained noticed by coaches at an area school, the place he honed his abilities earlier than transferring on to an even bigger academy in Tarn Taran, roughly an hour away from Attari. In 2011, Punjab National Bank chosen the then-teenager for a stipend of Rs 3,500 a month and 4 years later, Jugraj joined Indian Navy for a wage that was 10 occasions increased.
“I saw him play for PNB in the domestic leagues and he looked like a promising player,” says Kumar, the Navy coach. “Since PNB had worldwide gamers of their workforce, they weren’t providing him a job. So, we approached Jugraj and he accepted our supply.”
From nationals to Pro League, a match the place the world’s greatest groups go head-to-head, will probably be a giant step up for Jugraj when it comes to depth and high quality. (Express Photo)
In the years that adopted, Jugraj turned famend for his goal-scoring talents from penalty corners and persistently completed among the many highest scorers in national-level tournaments. “The Murugappa Cup, the Bangalore league… he was the best player in both those tournaments. At the senior nationals in Jhansi (2020), he was the best defender and highest goal-scorer,” says Kumar. “In the last few years, he has won individual awards in every tournament he’s played.”
Kumar and Sarabjit each are satisfied Jugraj deserved a call-up a lot earlier. But they’re additionally acutely aware of the excessive stage of competitors inside the Indian workforce. In the previous couple of years, there was a glut of penalty nook specialists within the Indian workforce, led by vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh.
Unique drag-flicks
Post-Tokyo, after Rupinderpal Singh retired from worldwide hockey, a slot opened up and regardless that there have been some spectacular performances by under-21 gamers on the Junior World Cup, Jugraj lastly obtained the nod due to his constant performances on the nationals,’ the place he scored various objectives,’ chief nationwide coach Graham Reid says.
Most of these objectives have been from drag-flicks, which captain Manpreet Singh mentioned have been ‘distinctive.’ Penalty-corner specialists normally take a few fast steps in the direction of the highest of the ‘D’ earlier than lunging ahead to take the drag-flick. Jugraj, nonetheless, virtually sprints in the direction of the ball earlier than unleashing a strong shot.
“It makes him very deceptive. His approach is very unusual because of the sprint. And secondly, he is slender like a centre-forward, but still is able to generate a lot of power,” Kumar says. “Since he is naturally very strong, we have mostly worked on getting his angles right over the years,” Kumar says.
Speed is likely one of the first issues even Reid seen, alongside along with his versatility. “I am quite excited to see if we can get some of his speed with the flicks and get him a little more consistent with where he puts them,” Reid says. “He is also a very competent midfielder and defender as well.”
Always an important sight to see the Coach give some motivational classes😍#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/41McRwjMZY
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 7, 2022
From nationals to Pro League, a match the place the world’s greatest groups go head-to-head, will probably be a giant step up for Jugraj when it comes to depth and high quality. Sarabjit, although, is assured his brother will deal with the transition easily after ready for such a very long time for this chance.
“His journey started in Attari, went to Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Bangalore and all over India just to get good enough to get selected for India,” says Sarabjit. “I am sure he will show that he deserves this chance.”
It’s been an extended journey for Jugraj. But then, he is at all times stayed away from shortcuts.
FIH Pro League: India vs France, 9.30pm, Live on Star Sports Network
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
