Now a regular feature in the Indian Core Probable Group, Rajkumar says he is fortunate to receive early recognition. “I feel very fortunate to get recognized early in my career. I feel the Hockey India Senior National Championships in 2018 and 2019 was a crucial moment in my career. Good performances there helped me get selected for the Senior National Camp,” expressed Rajkumar Pal.

He further expressed that hockey has given him a new lease of life. “For young boys from small villages like where I come from, there are very few opportunities to make a living or find the right career path. I am fortunate I was encouraged to play a sport that is governed by a professionally run Federation which ensures talent is recognized and nurtured,” he said further adding that youngsters who aspire to make the Indian Team must take the Annual National Championships seriously.

“Youngsters who want to get selected for the National Camp must take the Annual National Championships seriously and make use of the opportunity to do well for your team. Hard work never goes unnoticed,” he added.

Speaking about his experience over the past six months, Rajkumar feels the team management’s efforts to keep the players motivated through the lockdown was extremely important. “With no activities at all, it was very difficult to feel motivated but the team management, especially Chief Coach and Scientific Advisor ensured we were kept occupied with online activities, English classes, and a regular fitness regime. They also ensured we were not fatigued mentally,” Rajkumar explained.

With a well-defined role in the squad now, Rajkumar says his aim is to remain a regular feature in the National Team. “My aim now is to prove my potential in every single session, in every single opportunity I get. We have a very strong pool of players and there is a healthy internal competition to make the final squad. I have received great support from the senior players who encourage me to play to my potential. I look forward to building on this momentum,” he said.

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Being a professional athlete, Indian men’s hockey team striker Mandeep Singh has been through many tough situations during his career, but by his own admission, the time spent while recovering from COVID-19 has been the most “stressful” one.

Mandeep is one of the six men hockey players, including skipper Manpreet Singh, who had tested positive for COVID-19 at the team’s training base in Bengaluru last month after they arrived for the national camp.

In fact, Mandeep was the first player to be admitted to the hospital in Bengaluru. Since then all the six players have recovered and started their individual training sessions.

“I think we had read and heard so much about the pandemic being a deadly disease, the first few days were stressful and anxious after testing positive for the virus.

“Although I have been in some of the most difficult match-situations as a professional hockey player, I had never felt this stressed,” Mandeep said in a Hockey India release.

“I was never taken away in an ambulance, never been seriously injured either. So, this phase was a new experience for me. After recovering, they (Hockey India) even gave us an option to return home to take a break if we felt like it but we wanted to stay back and rejoin the rest of the group,” said the forward, who scored maximum goals for India in 2019 season.

The 25-year-old hailed the team management for their help and support during their recovery phase from the deadly virus.

“We have a very good trainer in Robin Arkel and he knows exactly how much to push us. We are taking only 50-60 percent of the regular workload at the moment and have just one session per day,” Mandeep said.

“Chief coach Graham Reid is also constantly monitoring how we feel during a session. It feels good to be back with the rest of the group and I feel relieved to be fine and recovered fully.”

With FIH Hockey Pro League restarting from Tuesday, Mandeep said it feels great to witness the resumption of sporting activities around the world.

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“I have not done anything for a month and that’s a long time in a sportsperson’s career especially when every day is about improving and being the best,” he added.

But Manpreet and five other players who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus feel fortunate to have a fantastic support system that constantly monitored their well-being. “To be honest, initially when the results came out, we were slightly stressed. But Hockey India officials, particularly the CEO (Elena Norman), was quick to assure us of all the support and told us not to worry about hockey or how this will impact our future in the sport. She emphasized that we need to get better first and that Hockey India along with SAI would ensure the best treatment and rehab. This was reassuring and true to their words, we received the best facilities in the hospital with SAI sending us healthy food every day for the five days that we were in the hospital and constantly checked with the medical team there of our well-being,” explained Manpreet Singh.

He emphasized that during the isolation in SAI for two weeks, they were checked on every day by Hockey India officials to know if there were any shortfalls. He said, “Hockey India officials would check on us almost every day if the food being provided is good if our tele-treatment was done regularly if we are monitoring our oxygen levels regularly and so on. Coaching Staff and teammates too would check on us through video calls. These things really helped us remain upbeat. Though it did sting a little to know all our teammates were back on the pitch while we were still in isolation, I feel this experience has made me mentally tougher to face any situation,” he admitted.

Manpreet and five other teammates on completing the isolation were put through general tests after which the doctors expressed, they were fit to resume activities. “We underwent a general check-up after two weeks of isolation. We got ECG, blood test and chest X-ray was done and only after the doctor gave us a go-ahead, we have begun very basic activities from last week. While SAI is putting together a post-recovery action plan to ensure a smooth return to sports activities, Chief Coach engages in a one-on-one pep talk with us that gives us the confidence in returning to old form soon. Our Scientific Advisor Robin Arkel has been a great support too since the Covid-19 pandemic began,” Manpreet said.

Looking back at the past five months which involved over 2 months of staying indoors in SAI, Bengaluru, and the subsequent 6-week break before returning to Bengaluru again, Manpreet said as players they are fortunate to receive the best care. “From my personal experience, I can say we were very fortunate to get the best care. All through the lockdown, good coordination between Hockey India and SAI ensured players’ best interest was given top priority. Our fitness was maintained throughout with a good indoor workout regime planned by the Support Staff. We were given a break just when we were starting to feel mentally fatigued and had begun missing our families. When we came back, the authorities ensured we were all tested, provided the best care and a secure bio bubble was formed on campus to keep us from getting exposed to the virus. The SOP to return to sports activities was made well in advance by Hockey India and approved in time by SAI so that our Olympic preparation is not hampered and we would have enough time to return to old form before competitions begin. It is overwhelming to receive this kind of support and we are determined to make all their efforts worthwhile by performing well,” stated the confident Skipper.

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“It was very different when I came into the Senior India Team in 2007. A lot has changed in terms of how the National Team is managed now in comparison to 10-12 years ago. There are a lot more professionalism and accountability. Hockey India has ensured we have a quality support system that is on par or better than other top nations and the planning of events and competition ensures we gain the right exposure before top tournaments. This systematic approach has definitely contributed to the team’s improvement over the years,” expressed Sunil who has been the cynosure of India’s forward line for over a decade.

The experienced forward emphasized that a two-way communication system in coaching has helped the team climb up the ranks in world hockey. He said, “Earlier, we would do what the Coach would say without questioning or without reasoning. But this has changed drastically over the years and there is a two-way communication approach where players are equally involved in planning training sessions. Senior players are also consulted by Hockey India, to ensure we are on the right track. I think these aspects have not only made the players as well as Support Staff more responsible and accountable but it has also largely helped in India’s climb up the World Rank to No.4.”

The Coorg-lad was particularly happy with the way things were handled during the lockdown and subsequently during the ongoing National Coaching Camp where the players have been closely monitored and a secure bio-bubble is created in SAI, Bengaluru. “We were particularly happy with the kind of care taken by Hockey India and SAI to ensure we have a safe environment in SAI. It is like a bio-bubble here with zero contact from outside and the Federation keeps a close check on every player’s well-being through constant communication with team’s Chief Coach,” stated Sunil.

The striker is confident both Hockey India and SAI will ensure the best preparation opportunities for the teams in the lead up to the Olympic Games next year. “While we are aware there may not be any competition at all this year barring select internal-matches, we are confident good tours will be planned early next year that will give us the right exposure before the Asian Champions Trophy and the FIH Hockey Pro League. We will need a good build-up to the Olympic Games and we have been told a proposal has already been made by Hockey India and the Coaching Staff to SAI for our tours and we look forward to doing our bit also.” Sunil said.

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