Gurjot Singh

Gurjot Singh (born 22 November 2004)[1] is an Indian field hockey player from Punjab. He made his senior India debut in 2024 the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in China 2024. He plays as a forward for the Roundglass Hockey Academy, a Punjab Club, in the domestic tournaments and for UP Rudras in the Hero Hockey India League 2024.[2][3]

Early life and education

Singh is from Husainabad, Nakodar tehsil, Jalandhar district, Punjab. His father used to work as a milkman for a vendor and he has two sisters. He used to cycle to his school in Sarinh, about 4 km away from his village. When he was 10, while cycling back from school, he was hit by a bike and suffered a serious head injury.[4] He took up hockey in Class 7 and played at a club in Sarinh till Class 12. Later, during the COVID pandemic, he worked in a shoe factory as a packaging boy to support his family. In 2021, he was selected for the Khalsa College team and after a brief stint, he joined Roundglass academy in July 2021, and trained under coach Balwinder Singh.[5] He is studying for a degree in Bachelor of Physical Education.[6]

Career

Singh polished his game at the Roundglass academy and within two years made his junior India debut in the 2023 Sultan of Johor Cup, where India won a bronze. He played again in the 2024 Sultan of Johor Cup and ended up with another bronze medal. In 2023, he played in the men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup at Salalah, Oman, won by India. He was also part of the FIH men’s Hockey 5s World Cup in 2024 at Oman where India finished fifth.[7] He was selected for the senior India team in September 2024 which won the Asian Champions Trophy at Hulunbuir, China.[1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Gurjot Singh - Hockey India". hockeyindia.org. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Hockey India League Players' Auction: Full list of squads of eight men's teams". The Times of India. 15 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  3. ^ Sportstar, Team (13 October 2024). "Hockey India League Auction 2024: Full list of sold and unsold players". Sportstar. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b Unnikrishnan, Dilip (20 September 2024). "Hockey: Gurjot Singh carves his own path from Hussainabad to the Indian national team". Scroll.in. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Four Players from Roundglass Hockey Academy Picked in the Hockey India League Auction". www.punjabnewsexpress.com. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Survived near-fatal head injury, worked in a 'chappal' factory, now playing hockey for India: Gurjot Singh is pure steel". The Times of India. 13 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  7. ^ ""It was a dream debut for me at the Asian Champions Trophy": Indian hockey player Gurjot Singh". ANI News. Retrieved 8 January 2025.