Fire…

Fire to do something keeps the spirit high and allows to fight against all odds. Fire within us feeds the energy for ultimate victory. We all know and have been told that life is not easy. Life is full of surprises and collection of desired-undesired, pleasant-unpleasant, and expected-unexpected moments. Every human being has his/her own definition and philosophy of life. Today, this writer has no plan to explain what is life. He merely wants to tell about few real events that happened in someone’s life, leaving the conclusion to the reader. Let the reader decide what should be taken from the story.

It was Tuesday, 22nd August 2006 and Sandeep Singh was travelling through Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express with his friend. Suddently, a bullet fired accidentally from a Pistol carried by RPF jawan who was travelling in same couch. Bullet hit the right side of hip to Sandeep Singh. At next station Railway, police took him to nearest hospital and later to Delhi for further treatment. He was declared out of danger but everyone assumed that he would have to carry walking sticks for rest of life. The incident was published in all leading news papers and TV channels and considered as an end of glorious journey of Sandeep Singh. But they were not aware about what lies in the future.

Who was Sandeep Singh?

Where Cricket is considered as only game in country, Sandeep Singh was player of Indian hockey team - our national game. On that day, he was going to Delhi to join National team as just after two days, they were supposed to fly for Hockey World Cup held at Germany. This was his first major tournament where he wanted to prove himself.

It looked like a cruel joke to everyone who were affected with this event including Sandeep Singh, who was the main hope for better performance at World Cup. Everyone thought this was an end of a player with great potential. Doctor told him that it would take years to hold the hockey stick again. As everyone knows - Hockey is game of energy, stamina, strength and spontaneity. Where player with proper physical strength has to take extra care and follow strict schedule to stay fit and required keep improving the game in order to stay in team, people considered this case as hopeless.

Generally, when doctors suggest or warn the patient on medical ground that he will have to take precautions, patient and his/her relatives accept the advice. But Sandeep Singh was not ready to accept what doctors told him, instead he wanted to prove the medical reports wrong. He wanted to play hockey again as it was his passion and not a single bullet had the power to ruin his passion, his dream.

Then fight for come back started against all odds.

Did he succeed? Yes, off course, he did. The fire and desire within him to become the member of National hockey team, not only broke all the doubts but made him the one of the great players Indian hockey team has seen in recent times.

He bounced back after two years and not only took place in Indian Hockey team but also became the captain of nation team. Under his captaincy, Indian national hockey team (where most of the players were new), won the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in 2009 beating Malaysia in final. India won this tournament after long gap of 13 years and he was the hero of this tournament.

He was also a hero of qualifying games for 2012 Olympics and highest goal maker (total 16 goals).In the final qualifying match, India defeated France by 8-1 where he got the hat-trick and total of 5 goals were in his credit.

Government of India awarded him Arjun Award in year 2010 for contributing best for Indian hockey. What a come back!

Sandeep Singh is not only an individual who fight against all odds, you will find more such examples but the count is still less.

These individuals didn’t believe in the depending on fate but strived to change the fortune by hard-work and set their own standards. Think about a period of 2 years since the bullet hit Sandeep Singh and when he was selected for National team; between these two events, What was going through his mind and what were the obstacles he had to face? How did he face the reactions from family, friends, doctors, and other people? How he would have reacted? How he prepared himself for the game and not only joined the team but inspired entire team to achieve new heights?

As already stated at the beginning of the article, you draw your own conclusion from the story that is mentioned here. Only idea to tell you the story of an individual and make aware ourselves about the fire within us, if we are not aware!

By the way, did this writer tell you that Sandeep Singh is still playing hockey and you can watch him as captain of Mumbai Magicians on Hockey Indian League?

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Thus said Dinesh Gajjar
Published at 11:16 am, Jan 14th 2013