Uncommon method, relentless follow make Harmanpreet’s drag flick click on
Rourkela: The second the umpire blew his whistle, pointing each his index fingers in direction of the objective, the ten,000-strong crowd erupted in pleasure on the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. The keenness was for one sole motive – Soorma Hockey Membership had been awarded a penalty nook (PC), that means Harmanpreet Singh can be taking the drag-flick.
The group turned louder as Harmanpreet Singh, who turns 29 on Monday, laid his sharp eyes on the pusher’s stick, bending his again on the high of the D. In got here the ball, swish went the flick and quite a lot of ‘oohs!’ as he missed the possibility.
The three-time FIH Participant of the 12 months is clearly the most important title in Indian hockey at the moment, which was lacking a star-like determine. With Harmanpreet rising because the pre-eminent face of Indian hockey, that place is not vacant with 1000’s staying again after the match to get a glimpse of the two-time Olympic bronze medallist.
On a cold Thursday night, Harmanpreet was operating a temperature, had cough and chilly however nonetheless turned out for the Hockey India League (HIL) contest towards UP Rudras after popping a few tablets.
It’s the similar devotion to the game that made him the sixth hockey participant to be chosen for India’s highest sports activities honour, Main Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, after Dhanraj Pillay, Sardar Singh, Rani Rampal, Manpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh.
“He hasn’t modified a bit since he began out. He was a peaceful defender and he’s nonetheless the identical, somebody who places crew earlier than himself. For him, it’s by no means me, it’s at all times we. Even at the moment, no matter he wins, he dedicates it to the crew,” says Harendra Singh, who coached Harmanpreet in Indian junior and senior groups.
“However the most effective factor about him is his starvation and eagerness to be taught. I’ve seen many who after success suppose they’ve change into greater than sport. He’s nonetheless humble. For him failure is the start of studying.”
It really is. After the excessive of the Tokyo 2021 bronze, the India skipper’s under-par present led to their early ouster from the 2023 World Cup – maybe the bottom level of his profession.
However since then, the drag-flicker has upped his sport, spending hours in coaching to attain persistently, serving to India win a number of matches. All of the exhausting yards and further hours within the fitness center yielded the Jandiala Guru boy (a small city outdoors Amritsar) a number of laurels within the latest previous together with three FIH Participant of the 12 months awards, the title of the most costly participant ( ₹78 lakh) at HIL auctions and now the Khel Ratna.
However the icing on the cake was the bronze in Paris the place Harmanpreet additionally turned the primary Indian in 60 years to be the top-scorer on the Olympics with 10 objectives after Prithipal Singh at Tokyo 1964.
“He has carved his area of interest. Most drag-flickers have a cross leg throughout a PC. He has a double step. Step one is small, near the ball after which he drags his left foot lengthy and retains his head down,” says Harendra, now the Indian ladies’s hockey crew coach.
“Then in the identical swing, he can hit it up or down or across the first rusher which is a giant drawback for the goalkeeper. That’s his third mark. In my evaluation as a coach, it is rather troublesome to learn his drag-flick. Provided that a first-rusher throws his physique on the road can he save the PC. If the primary rusher misses, then it’s troublesome to cease him.”
Harmanpreet is a clear flicker who makes use of his wrist to perfection, releasing the ball in entrance of the physique on the final second in contrast to different sparkles who do it parallelly whereas some elevate their head. Holding a low head makes it powerful for the goalkeeper or rushers to gauge the place the Indian defender shall be aiming.
Harmanpreet retains it so low that his left hand nearly touches the turf and with a motion of the wrist he can ship it up or maintain it low. This comes from Harmanpreet’s preliminary coaching days the place Harendra would typically tie metallic plate or ball to the again of his stick throughout PC coaching for him to generate extra drive.
“In drag-flick, everybody has their very own fashion. Taking a PC is getting harder daily. Earlier, there can be just one rusher however now there are two. It’s all about follow. You analyse day by day, going into the main points of each rusher, the place does he maintain his step, the place does he maintain his hockey stick, the areas the place you possibly can beat him,” mentioned Harmanpreet.
“I analyse these issues lots; which goalkeeper is sweet, the place he does his greatest, the place he usually saves and so on. Additionally, once I flick, I attempt to ensure I am going beneath the knee in order that occasion if it hits the foot, we’ll get one other PC.”
Indian hockey followers can be hoping that the India skipper retains his head low and continues scoring by his bullets.
