Bharat Chetri

Bharat Chetri is an Indian Hockey player who is the goalkeeper and captain of the Indian Hockey team. Born in Darjeeling, hugely talented Bharat Chetri is one of the most enduring goalkeepers of our times. One of the five sons of an army personnel, Chetri learnt nuances of hockey at the Danapur Army School before joining Sports Authority of India’s Centre of Excellence, Bangalore, in 1998. Bharat made his debut in international hockey in 2001 playing in the Prime Minister’s Gold Cup tournament in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Chetri was adjudged as the best goalkeeper of the 1997 Junior Nationals. He had captained the 18-member Indian squad that won the bronze medal at the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, Chetri was deputy to Devesh Chauan at the 2001 World Cup in Hobart, Australia, and did exceedingly well whenever called up for duty. Chetri has been in and out of team between 2002 and 2004, before coach Rajinder Singh Jr. recalled him for the Mini-World Cup in 2005. Chetri cemented his place with a sterling show at the otherwise disastrous home 2005 Champions Trophy in Chennai. He has also played 2007 Sultan Azlan Cup and the Belgium Series in the early 2008. With him on the rolls, India truly has good competent goalkeepers after a long time. Chettri led the 16-member Indian hockey squad in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.