NEW DELHI: When you're born in a family that has given the country four top-flight hockey internationals and a celebrated coach, the hockey stick is surely your first toy.
It starts with a plastic one and gradually goes to the one the professionals use. For Hardik Singh, India's star midfielder and current vice-captain, it's a similar story. It follows a definitive path that had to happen. Hockey runs in the blood. His grandfather Preetam Singh Ray was a renowned hockey coach in the Indian Navy; father Varinderpreet Singh donned the national colours; paternal uncle is none other than one of India's best drag-flickers ever Jugraj Singh; aunt is Golden Girl of the yesteryears Rajbir Kaur, whose husband is the illustrious half-back Gurmail Singh, who was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
It is no surprise that Hardik took to hockey like a fish takes to water. "I consider myself very lucky to be part of a family where hockey is in our DNA," Hardik told TOI during an interaction on Friday. "My grandfather helped me learn the basics of the game. Then my uncle Jugraj Singh mentored me and has remained a huge influence in my life."
A creative and a versatile midfielder, Hardik rose through the ranks and is now a pivotal member of the senior national team since he made his international debut at the 2018 Champions Trophy.
When you have such a rich legacy behind your back, there is always the additional pressure to live up to the reputation. "I always try my 100 percent to carry on and live up to the family legacy," he said. "The journey has just begun. I just want to help my country win more and more matches."
Hardik was instrumental in India's bronze winning campaign at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. His sensational solo goal in the quarterfinal against Great Britain was one of the definitive moments of the team's historic run.
Of late, even at the FIH Pro League, Hardik has been single-handedly responsible for creating several of India's chances. He is now to the current team what Sardar Singh was for the team in the past decade. The responsibility is on his shoulders, and Hardik is ready to deliver.
"My focus has always been the team. My aim now is to win gold for the country at the Asian Games and qualify for the 2024 Olympics."
