Delhi SG Pipers’ Rajkumar Pal aiming for Hockey India League highlight

For Delhi SG Pipers’ Rajkumar Pal, the journey over the previous years in hockey has been sensational. After lacking the prospect to make the journey for the Tokyo Olympics, the midfielder went again to the drafting board and labored onerous. This was rewarded in 2024, when he was a part of the Indian group that gained the bronze medal on the Paris Olympics.

Now, set to be a part of the revamped Hockey India League, Rajkumar is hoping to make the highlight his personal with the Delhi SG Pipers. The group made heads flip on the public sale desk with their eye for younger expertise and the midfielder feels this may assist the facet in the long term. Talking solely to Indiatoday.in, Rajkumar was real looking about Delhi’s probabilities within the 2024-25 season and in addition opened up about being reunited with PR Sreejesh.

The midfielder additionally gave a sneak peek into his journey thus far and his targets going ahead.

Rajkumar Pal interplay

India Right now: Let’s begin with the Hockey India League once more. Final time we had been right here, many stars received an opportunity to make a reputation for themselves. Individuals at residence began recognising gamers. Do you count on the identical affect from the upcoming league?

Rajkumar Pal: Completely! On this league, I feel three or 4 gamers will shine. I additionally wish to give my one hundred pc and take the highlight. Each participant needs to be seen, and everybody will attempt their finest. It is nice to be part of a group. The entire recreation must be about making an affect, as each group has that one participant who persistently scores targets and will get seen. Scoring offers confidence and motivation and the sport continues to enhance. I hope that if I begin the match properly, I can goal for higher performances all through the league.

India Right now: As you talked about, you’re taking part in for Delhi SG Pipers. What makes the Delhi SG Pipers group particular in comparison with different groups this time?

Rajkumar Pal: I feel our group has essentially the most variety of younger gamers, which goes to be an enormous benefit for Delhi SG Pipers. The gamers are younger and match, and we’ve constructed a well-balanced group. We’ve got skilled forwards, midfielders, and defenders, and even the juniors are getting the assist they want. So, I consider it’s a powerful group, and we are going to all assist one another. The extra skilled gamers will information the youthful ones. We’ve got a very good steadiness, and now it’s nearly making ready properly and placing in our greatest effort.

India Right now: You’re a younger participant your self, very energetic. Do you suppose the group will obtain success straight away, or will it take time?

Rajkumar Pal: I feel we may have success, however we’d not end within the high 4 straight away. Nevertheless, we will make it to the finals sooner or later, and I consider that within the coming seasons, as we acquire extra expertise, the group will turn into a lot stronger. After 2-3 years, the group will probably be a lot better, with improved confidence and talent from the brand new gamers as properly. So, success is certainly on the horizon, however it would take a while to achieve our peak.

India Right now: You’ll reunite with PR Sreejesh at Delhi SG Pipers. What does it really feel wish to play with him once more?

Rajkumar Pal: Enjoying with Sreejesh Bhai is nice. He at all times motivates the gamers, and that’s necessary for each group. Throughout our earlier time collectively, he was an enormous assist, at all times guiding us, and I’m positive he’ll proceed to do this. It feels good to be with such a participant as a result of he understands the sport and the psychological facets of it. We will at all times discuss to him about what to do, and his steerage is an enormous contribution to the group’s success.

India Right now: Your rise to the highest has been difficult. You misplaced your father, you then didn’t make the Olympic group in 2020. However you saved pushing ahead, and ultimately, you made it to the Paris Olympics and gained a medal. How do you see your journey?

Rajkumar Pal: After I look again, I really feel there’s been a variety of change in my life. Individuals wish to meet me now due to the Olympic medal, however after I didn’t make it in 2020, it was very disappointing. I used to be unhappy, however I didn’t let it drag me down for too lengthy. I shortly moved on and saved my thoughts recent. Each participant has a turning level of their profession, and that was mine. If I had saved occupied with not making the group, I wouldn’t have reached the place I’m at the moment. I continued working onerous, and ultimately, the chance got here. After I lastly performed within the Olympics, my complete journey modified. My household, my village, every little thing turned particular. Probably the most happiness got here when the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh got here to my village to honour me and my household.

India Right now: Give us a sneak peek into your hockey journey.

Rajkumar Pal: I’m from a village referred to as Karmapur within the Ghazipur district, which is close to Varanasi. My journey began in 2009 after I started taking part in. All three of my brothers performed too, and I began taking part in due to them. Initially, my household didn’t approve, however they ultimately supported me, and I began working towards at a personal academy run by the late Tej Bahadur Singh. Over time, the craze for hockey grew in my village, and other people began getting jobs within the military and different departments due to hockey. That’s when issues began altering. I later moved to Lucknow, however my household confronted a troublesome time. My father had handed away in 2011, and my mom needed to make some very troublesome choices. She was alone at residence, and though it was powerful for her, she inspired me to go pursue my goals. I can always remember that sacrifice.

India Right now: It will need to have been a really troublesome resolution on your mom.

Rajkumar Pal: Sure, it was extremely troublesome for her, particularly with nobody else at residence. She needed to handle every little thing herself. She even needed to deal with the cows and deal with different family work. However I’m grateful to her for letting me pursue my goals. I can always remember that point, particularly after I needed to depart in 2011.

India Right now: Now that you’ve got gained an Olympic bronze and carried out excellently properly with the nationwide facet, what’s your private purpose?

Rajkumar Pal: My private purpose is to proceed bettering my abilities. I wish to management the ball and positioning higher, particularly in high-speed conditions, and create extra scoring alternatives. I hope to point out my abilities and contribute extra to the group. I at all times try to be higher, and my focus is to assist my group win by taking part in my finest.