Hard work, his secret

RUPINDER PAL SINGH, 27, Hockey player, Faridkot

BECAUSE

He was part of the Indian men’s hockey team that won the bronze at the 2018 Jakarta Games. He also has the 2014 Asian Games gold in his kitty.

From travelling in a sleeper class and skipping a meal to save money so that return ticket could be bought to affording a ₹25-lakh car, Faridkot-born Rupinder Pal Singh has come a long way, thanks to hockey. He hails from a humble family, where his elder brother —former state-level hockey player —had to sacrifice his own career in sports so that Rupinder could pursue hockey. Rupinder started his hockey career from an academy in Ferozepur but it was his six-year stint at Chandigarh Hockey Academy that helped him earn national colours. Of late, Rupinder has become one of the lethal drag-flickers of Indian hockey with 90 goals in 190 international matches to his credit.

SECRET OF MY SUCCESS

Hard work is the sole secret of my success. I train for five to six hours every day, come rain or hail. I am motivated by my dreams to make my country proud.

MY GOAL NEXT

I want to be part of the team that wins the World Cup.

MY ROLE MODEL

My parents are my role models. They had to face a lot of ups and downs in life but they still gave us the best they could.

BY THE WAY

I love bingeing on movies on Netflix. I am also fond of watching football.

SECOND OPINION

He is one of the finest players we have and we expect him to deliver for the country in the coming tournaments.

—Rajpal Singh, Ex-hockey captain