‘Everyone in India wants us to win in Rio’, says Sardar Singh

(Rio de Janeiro, brpress) - Mad about hockey. This is how one the of India’s most popular players, Sardar Singh, described the country’s passion by one of the most ancient Olympic sports that will finally have its South American spree in Rio 2016.

(Rio de Janeiro, brpress) – Mad about hockey. This is how one the of India’s most popular players, Sardar Singh, described the country’s passion by one of the most ancient Olympic sports that will finally have its South American spree in Rio 2016. Singh talked to Rio2016.com by phone before he was replaced as the men’s team captain by PR Sreejesh, less than on month before the Games. 

Due to the recent news on Indian hockey, it seems that this August will be an exceptional August. When the Indian men’s hockey team takes the field at the Rio Olympic Games, arguably being the country’s best chance of winning a medal in 36 years, India is likely to come to a standstill, in the words of hockey star Singh. 

“Everyone in India wants us to win the Olympic Games,” said the 29-year-old former captain, who has played for the national team since 2006 and despite loosing his “kingdom”   has retained his position as midfielder, which is his primary position, and is playing in Rio. Sources in India have commented that coach Roelant Oltmans didn’t want to risk anything different for Rio.   

All eyes on hockey

“Hockey will be the most important sport for Indian fans during the Olympics”, Singh continued, with no fear of mistaking. “Things already will start going mental one or two months before”, he predicted. Actually India’s leading female player Ritu Rani has also being replaced by the youngest Sushila Chanu. 

The challenging times for the most successful country in men’s Olympic hockey, having won eight gold medals and having not reached the podium since the Moscow 1980 Games. Singh guaranteed he has been totally focused on bringing a medal to India, but apparently he was not aware of his own fragile situation by Narinder Batra, Hockey India president, who stressed that “reputation is your perspective”. Inside and outside the pitch.

If Sardar and other players are ready to party in Rio they will have to think twice. “The team is improving, we have a lot of young players who are learning a lot and they are impressing me”, the former hockey king stated, perhaps not knowing that one of the youngsters would take over as captain. “Everyone is listening to each other“, Sardar continued, insisting he is 100% focused on Rio despite personal turbulences, such as a rape accusation by a British national. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PARTIAL AND/OR TOTAL REPRODUCTION OF THIS CONTENT ONLY AUTHORISED BY BR PRESS.