Versatile Jugraj Singh, son of a porter at Attari-Wagah border, and India’s hero in Asian Champions Trophy hockey final

Jugraj’s strike was crucial. Along with the Asian Games gold last year, India are now the dominant force in Asian hockey.

Jugraj, 27, is a versatile player and can play as a centre-back, full-back and a drag-flicker. Along with captain Harmanpreet Singh, he is one of the most powerful penalty corner experts in the sport. Scoring the winning goal, off a pass from Harmanpreet, made
Tuesday the biggest day on a hockey field for Jugraj.

Jugraj’s father Sukhjeet Singh watched the final on TV back in Attari. The 59-year-old has worked as a porter for 30 years and is now posted at the Attari Integrated Check Post.

“I don’t know anything other than doing hard labour, but my son has made me and our family proud. He used to sell Indian flags at the Beating Retreat ceremony to help me run the family, but see where he has reached today,” says Sukhjeet.

When he started off in the late 1980s, Sukhjeet recalls unloading cement bags weighing 50 kg each from trucks that came from Pakistan. After the 2019 Pulwama attacks, trucks from Afghanistan carrying dry fruits would arrive. Sukhjeet’s father, Dara Singh, worked as a porter as well.

Jugraj’s life would have run on similar lines had it not been for coach Navjit Singh, who spotted his athletic ability. Navjit got the youngster to start playing hockey with other children on the grass field at Government Senior Secondary School, Attari.

Navjit, a former hockey player himself, had taken the initiative to be a talent-spotter and train village children at the ground.

“Jugraj was well-built compared to other children his age. It perhaps had to do with him lifting heavy loads when his father needed a helping hand,” says Navjit.

To provide young trainees with proper hockey kits, Navjit would tap his NRI friends in England and Canada. He recalls how Jugraj would juggle time between training and working as a street vendor at the Attari border.

“Jugraj would practice in the morning and afternoon before going to sell flags to tourists. Even though his day would end late, he would be the first one to be at training in the morning,” the coach recalls.

To save money, Jugraj would walk 2 km from home to the border and back, his mother Paramjeet Kaur says.

Jugraj’s big break came in 2005 when a Punjab government sports wing was established at the senior secondary school by former India captain Pargat Singh, the then Punjab sports director.

India players celebrate after Jugraj Singh scored their opener in the Asian Champions Trophy final. (PHOTO: Hockey India)

“We won a title in an inter-district tournament at Moga, Jugraj scoring the winning goal with a reverse hit. He drank his favourite drink, a Frooti, after the win,” Navjit says.

Childhood friend and junior team-mate Girish Duggal has seen Jugraj’s early struggles. “He gave all the money from the sale of flags to his father to help him support the family, which includes two elder sisters and a brother,” says Duggal.

In 2009, Jugraj joined the Baba Uttam Singh National Hockey Academy in Khadoor Sahib, another border town, spending more than four years there. He was good enough to be part of teams which competed in the Nehru Cup tournaments.

Coach Balkar Singh, an Army man, was impressed by Jugraj’s willpower and endurance. “His knees were very strong and he was what we call an up-and-down player. We could make him run the whole ground but he would not get tired,” says Balkar.

Sleeping with a kit next to him

The coach recalls a touching moment from several years ago. “After the team reached the final of the Nehru Cup, we got him a kit sponsored by BAS and Vampire. He would keep the kit next to him even when he slept. That is how much he valued it,” he says.

Nowadays when Jugraj, now in the Navy, comes to the village, he brings along kits for young trainees.

Jugraj’s father believes blessings from above have helped his son shine.

“Working at the border post, I would often ask BSF officers to tell Pakistan border officials to pray for us at the Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib gurdwaras. It is Guru Nanak Dev ji’s blessings which have guided him.”