Ignored by IHF, Sandeep146;s back on top

When Sandeep Singh suffered a freak bullet injury two years ago, Indian hockey fans lamented the loss of the country8217;s...

When Sandeep Singh suffered a freak bullet injury two years ago, Indian hockey fans lamented the loss of the country8217;s only world-class drag-flicker. His return to the Indian team for the Champions Challenge in Belgium last year had been highly anticipated. But, playing top-flight hockey after a long layoff, he was not at his best in the tournament and was dropped after that on the insistence of former coach Joaquim Carvalho.

Since then, Sandeep was forced to bide his time in domestic hockey, waiting for a call from the selectors even as hockey experts kept slamming the IHF for ignoring him. Sandeep8217;s frustration became apparent when he said last year that the Olympic qualifiers would be his last chance to ever play for India again. But he was overlooked for the qualifying tournament in Chile as well.

With the rumblings in the Indian Hockey Federation IHF following the qualification debacle, he finally got his chance after the suspension of the IHF in the recent Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia and emerged as the top scorer with nine goals, far ahead of anyone else. 8220;I had to prove a point, and I had to prove a few things to myself,8221; Sandeep told The Indian Express today. 8220;I8217;m happy the coach has faith in me. Finally I can play my game freely. In a while, I should get close to my best.8221;

Experts say the big reason for his success was that the new team management valued him. 8220;The way he was used at the Champions Challenge was wrong. A player coming off rehabilitation cannot be introduced in the last 10 minutes and be expected to score. That was the biggest mistake by IHF,8221; says Harendra Singh , who has seen Sandeep from his intial days.

Coach A.K. Bansal, who led the team to their second-place finish in Malaysia said he knew even before the tournament that Sandeep would be the key to India8217;s success. 8220;Now he doesn8217;t need a certificate from me. His performances in the tournament is proof enough,8221; Bansal said. Considered a spent force by the IHF, Sandeep had been replaced over the last year by drag-flicker VR Raghunath, who has not been able to impress despite repeated opportunities.

For someone who was once considered the successor to Jugrag Singh, the Azlan Shan tournament was perhaps Sandeep8217;s last chance to silence his critics. With flicks over 140 kmph at Azlan Shah, he has finally taken a giant step towards a long career with the Indian team.