When the eighth Hockey India annual awards was in full movement on Friday, March 27, the Indian males’s and ladies’s groups appeared with their particular off-field jerseys. Amidst that crowd, it was form of straightforward to identify Gurjant Singh.
He gave the impression to be standing out from the gang in a easy Nehru jacket and his sharp seems. Many had been questioning why he regarded totally different to his teammates and the reply quickly got here. There was a short pause in proceedings as Gurjant was known as on to the dias and the announcement quickly adopted. The 2-time Olympic medalist and one of many most interesting forwards in latest instances determined to give up worldwide hockey.
INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY: FULL COVERAGE
All of the sudden, a silence descended upon proceedings earlier than Gurjant lightened up the temper with some laughs alongside his now former teammates, earlier than saying that he was glad together with his profession.
With simply 130 appearances to his title and 48 targets, Gurjant felt the time was proper to name time on his profession.
THE REASON
It’s no secret that over the previous one yr or so, Gurjant has struggled to carry on to his place within the aspect. Most of it was right down to accidents, together with his again taking a toll after years of hockey. With the emergence of Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh, the 31-year-old’s place within the aspect was gone and he felt put his well being forward of the sport.
“Truly I feel final yr after I was enjoying within the Professional League, I had a again harm. Even earlier than that, round a month earlier within the fitness center, I had a again harm. Then I attempted to restart a bit shortly after which back-to-back I acquired injured twice.”
“In order that harm was such that it took me at the least 7 to eight months to recuperate. It was a very long time. And in a crew sport, should you get injured after which come again and it’s important to carry out on the identical time when World Cup and video games are just some months away, I feel there was a little bit of confusion.”
“It was a critical harm and after that I did not really feel like taking that threat once more. As a result of the nationwide crew schedule may be very busy, the coaching ambiance may be very excessive. Because it took so lengthy to recuperate, I felt that perhaps now I ought to retire from worldwide hockey,” mentioned Gurjant.
He promised to proceed enjoying within the home circuit and the Hockey India League, however most significantly felt it was the correct time and claimed that the stage was proper.
‘WHY NOT LEAVE ON TOP’
It appeared solely like yesterday when Gurjant got here in as a younger ahead from the Jr. crew and located immediate success. His sport was symbolized by his quick targets and it appeared like an artist was at work when he was making that run by the center.
However, Gurjant believes that regardless of how massive of a participant you might be, retirement is inevitable.
“In a participant’s life, this time comes for everybody. Irrespective of how properly you might be enjoying, in the future it’s important to face retirement,” mentioned Gurjant.
However his mindset was one thing that felt excellent. Depart the sport on the prime and with a smile on his face.
“My mindset was why not depart if you end up enjoying properly, performing properly, with medals, as an alternative of leaving with a significant harm or efficiency points the place you go along with disappointment. I feel leaving fortunately is best,” mentioned Gurjant.
HEART STAYS IN HOCKEY
Whereas he’ll now concentrate on domestics and his authorities job again in Punjab, teaching is not one thing he’ll soar into in the intervening time. However his coronary heart won’t ever wander off from the Indian hockey groups. Now a fan of the crew, Gurjant is hoping for World Cup and Asian Video games glory for the aspect.
“A participant’s mindset and coronary heart all the time stays with the crew. Whether or not you might be retired or not, your thoughts all the time says that the crew ought to win, Indian hockey ought to win.”
“So clearly even off the sector, my mindset would be the identical. I’ll help the crew. There are two main tournaments arising, so the hope is that the crew performs properly and brings medals,” mentioned Gurjant.
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