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Ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics 2024, 28-year-old forward Sukhjeet Singh is determined to make a mark in the Summer Games. The quadrennial event is scheduled to start on July 26.
Sukhjeet overcame a career-threatening injury and earned a spot in the Indian national team, scoring 20 goals in 70 matches since his debut in 2022.
“Playing in the Olympics has always been a dream for me and my family. It’s the pinnacle of any athlete’s career, and I’m honoured to have this opportunity,” said Sukhjeet Singh told Hockey India.
“I believe my hard work and dedication have paid off. Now, I am determined to fulfil my role in the team with excellence and repay the trust of my coach and teammates by giving my all in Paris,” he added.
“The last two years have been incredibly rewarding for me” - Sukhjeet Singh
Sukhjeet played an important role in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneshwar, scoring three goals in six encounters. He was also a part of the gold medal-winning Indian team at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last year.
In the recently concluded FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24, he scored five goals, playing a crucial role.
Reflecting on his journey, Sukhjeet emphasized that every match has been a learning experience for him to improve and contribute towards the team’s success.
“The last two years have been incredibly rewarding for me. Every match has been a learning experience, pushing me to improve and contribute more to the team’s success. My focus is now entirely on the Paris Olympics, and I am determined to give my best performance to help our team achieve the highest honours,” he stated.
Sukhjeet Singh started playing the sport when he was six years old, courtesy of his father, Ajit Singh, a former hockey player for the Punjab police. When he was 22, Sukhjeet was included in the probables for the senior team. However, a back injury resulted in temporary paralysis of his right leg, delaying his senior team debut.
The Indian team is placed in ‘Pool B’ at Paris 2024. They will start their campaign against New Zealand on July 27. Later, they will compete with Argentina on July 29 and Ireland and Belgium on July 30 and August 1, respectively. The final group stage encounter will be against Australia on August 2.
