5 talented Indian hockey players who got injured right before a tournament

#2 Sandeep Singh

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh after he was discharged from the hospital

Another promising young Indian penalty corner specialist who emerged through the ranks after Jugraj got injured was Sandeep Singh. He made his debut in January 2004 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. His drag-flick technique was considered to be inch-perfect and helped him put a lot of power in the shots with his drag-flick recorded at 145kmph said to be the fastest drag flick in the world.

A moment of misfortune in August, 2006 when he was accidently hit by a bullet fired by a local policeman, put a halt on his progress. While travelling in a passenger train in Punjab, the bullet hit him on his lower back which left him almost paralysed and on a wheelchair for almost two years.The incident also meant that he could not take part in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It was his determination, passion for the game of stick and ball that saw him make a comeback at the international stage in 2008.

He had an instant impact on the results as India finished second in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2008. Due to his such impact on the game and his leadership skills, he was given the captain’s armband in 2009. Under his leadership, India clinched the winners title in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2009. Sandeep was the highest scorer in the tournament that got him the Man of the tournament award. He continued scoring goals for the national side years after and was the highest goal scorer for India in the 2012 London Olympic qualifiers.