A saga of perseverance, persistence and performance - the story of Punjab Police forward Baljit Singh Dhillon, recently named the captain of the Indian team.An international career that started rather disappointingly, when he was pushed and projected prematurely as a penalty corner specialist at the '96 Atlanta Olympics, has now reached a stage from where the 26-year-old can launch himself into stardom. What with the FIH president Juan Calzado taking personal interest in his selection to the World Dream Team, the hard work Dhillon put in to live up to the expectations has really helped.Coach Cedric D'Souza, soon after returning from the Atlanta Olympics had lamented that Dhillon's role as a specialist did not click, but the coach predicted a ``very bright future'' for the lad.At the 58th Senior Nationals in Bangalore the following year, Dhillon playing for Punjab and took the first step into the ``bright future'' scoring goals from some attractive penalty corner sequences. One goal scored in the crucial encounter against Air-India that left rival goalkeeper Edgar Mascarenhas (Jr) stranded will last long in the mind of the connoisseur.From that sunny day at the SAI Centre in Bangalore, when he silenced his detractors, Dhillon has come a long way in establishing his place in the National squad while improving with every international outing.Dhillon was at his best in the Test series against Pakistan early this year and it was his dazzling showing in that series which prompted Calzado to pick him for the World Dream Team.A vital part of the Indian attack, Dhillon's specialty lies in his ability to hoodwink his markers. Though lacking the speed of Dhanraj Pillay and the skills of Baljit Singh Saini, Dhillon has performed well enough for one to gloss over his inherent weaknesses.His combining with Mohammed Riaz on the left flank was the ideal foil for the Mukesh Kumar-Pillay forward-line that fetched India the gold medal at the Bangkok Asian Games.Dhillon also exhibited his penchant for the drag-flick to score goals off penalty corners. And that one such effort should result in Pillay scoring the equaliser for India in the final against South Korea was just rewards for his day's labour.``Dhillon was the most important man in my scheme of things,'' said coach MK Kaushik on returning from the Bangkok Asian Games, an opinion that was echoed by current coach Vasudevan Baskaran, who took over for the Pakistan series. ``Dhillon has the ability to mix the sub-continental skills with modern style,'' Baskaran had said.As for the recognition from the ``men who matter'' is concerned, Dhillon was bestowed with this year's Arjuna Award. And the acknowledgment of his talent by the international federation and the IHF (by appointing him as the captain for Asia Cup), should only boost his morale.``I will try and do my best for the team,'' a modest Dhillon said on his appointment as the skipper. ``It is a very important tournament (Asia Cup). With experienced people like Pillay, Saini and Ramandeep (Singh) to play alongside youngsters like Gagan (Ajit Singh) and Deepak (Thakur), I hope we can win the Cup,'' he said.
