Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar’s alumnus, Hardik Singh, who has been trained at Surjit Hockey Academy run by Punjab Government, has shined in Tokyo 2020 Olympics as Indian men’s hockey team made history by winning medal after 41 years of drought. The Indian hockey team has brought the bronze after defeating Germany 5-4.
Hardik Singh owned India’s second goal in the second quarter. The goal was a bit complicated when the Germans were showing defence, but Hardik passed over the ball to Nilakanta who took his time gave the ball to Simranjeet and then Hardik turned and struck the ball into the net.
Born in a family full of hockey enthusiasts, Hardik’s journey in the sport's pitch began at an early age. Son of Punjab Police Superintendent (SP) and former player Varinderpreet Singh, Hardik used to join his grandfather Pritam Singh to the hockey pitch in their village Khusropur near Jalandhar when he was four years old.
His grandfather, Preetam Singh Ray, was a hockey coach in the Indian Navy. Hardik's uncle, former Indian drag flicker Jugraj Singh is his mentor.
While Varinderpreet did not have an opportunity to play for India, his son Hardik has fulfilled his dream of winning a medal for the country.
The hockey star, Hardik Singh did his schooling at Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar from where he got selected at Surjit Hockey Academy after passing his matriculation.
Despite hockey in his DNA, he had to struggle a lot to secure his place in the Indian squad. Hardik along with Dilpreet Singh and Shamsher Singh were named as probable for the 2016 Junior World Cup, however, the trio did not make the final team.
Hardik was not given a shot in the senior Indian team until 2018, and there was a point when he considered playing in other leagues rather than focusing on his India career.
Hardik Singh, a member of India's Olympic men's hockey squad, was about to quit his dream and seek a club career in the Dutch League. Hardik revealed he hails from a hockey-loving family, but he had started to feel suffocated due to a lack of opportunities at the top level.
Thanks to his former drag-flicker uncle Jugraj Singh, he intervened to motivate him and today Hardik has made the entire India proud. "Jugraj Singh, my uncle, made me sit down and reconsider my decision. Jugraj Paaji has had a significant impact on my life. He has and continues to mentor me in all aspects of my life," says the midfielder.
He made his senior debut in the Asian Champions Trophy, and also competed in the 2018 World Cup. "As a result of his advice, I put in more blood, sweat, and hard effort." Finally, my efforts were repaid when I was named a core probable for the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy after earning Player of the Series at a domestic event in Mumbai. Then came the 2018 World Cup, which was the icing on the cake," Hardik said.
In June 2021, Hardik got selected for Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The team managed to rise to the semi-finals, however suffered heartbreak after Belgium defeated India 5-2. Nonetheless, the team still had a chance to win a medal for India.
Today, the squad faced Germany in a match for bronze and all of the hard effort paid off for the Indian men's hockey team, as India defeated Germany 5-4 after a neck to neck match.