Rajinder Singh (field hockey, born 2002)
{{Short description|Indian field hockey player (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
Rajinder Singh (born 22 December 2002){{Cite web |title=Rajinder Singh - Hockey India |url=https://hockeyindia.org/index.php/players/rajinder-singh-profile-743 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=hockeyindia.org}} is an Indian field hockey player from Haryana. He made his senior Indian debut in the two-match series against Germany in October 2024.{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2024-10-23 |title=IND vs GER: Inspired by Sardar, Rajinder set for senior India debut in 2024 bilateral hockey series against Germany |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/ind-vs-ger-2024-bilateral-hockey-series-inspired-by-sardar-singh-rajinder-senior-india-debut-v-germany-news/article68786035.ece |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Sportstar |language=en}} He plays as a midfielder and is a product of Namdhari Sports Academy. He plays for Haryana in the domestic tournaments and for Hyderabad Toofans in the Hockey India League.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-15 |title=Hockey India League Players' Auction: Full list of squads of eight men's teams |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/hockey-india-league-players-auction-full-list-of-squads-of-eight-mens-teams/articleshow/114233146.cms |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Early life and education
Singh is from Sant Nagar village, Sirsa district, Haryana.{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Saikat |date=2024-11-17 |title=After an impressive debut at the Nationals, Haryana’s Rajinder looks to adapt to international hockey with India A |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/rajinder-singh-haryana-hockey-interview-senior-nationals-india-a-tour-of-netherlands-belgium/article68878694.ece |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Sportstar |language=en}} He is the son of a land-owning farmer and took up hockey by chance when he joined the Namdhari Academy to get a new hockey stick, like others in his village. He learnt his basics under coach Harwinder Singh and later, former Indian skipper Sardara Singh, who hails from the same village, became his mentor. His Haryana state coach is Sandeep Sangwan.
Career
In October 2022, Singh’s first big medal came in the 2022 Sultan of Johor Cup, held at Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where India won a gold medal.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2022-10-29 |title=India defeats Australia to win third Sultan of Johor Cup in shootout |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/india-australia-sultan-of-johor-cup-2022-final-ind-vs-aus-shootout-5-4/article66069934.ece |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Sportstar |language=en}} Next year too, he was in the Indian team that won a bronze medal in the 2023 Sultan of Johor Cup.{{Cite web |title=Latest Hockey News and Updates - Hockey India |url=https://hockeyindia.org/news/sultan-of-johor-cup-india-colts-bag-bronze-defeat-new-zealand-2-2-3-2-in-a-thrilling-shootout |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=hockeyindia.org}} In December, he was also part of the India team that came fourth in the 2023 Men's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup. In 2023, he played in the Indian team that won the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023. He also participated in the FIH pro league for men in the 2022–23 season.{{Cite web |title=Rajinder Singh {{!}} India hockey player |url=https://www.fih.hockey/events/world-cup/men/mens-junior-world-cup-2023-1507/player/rajinder-singh-27351 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=International Hockey Federation |language=en}}
References
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Category:Field hockey players from Haryana
Category:Male field hockey midfielders
Category:Indian male field hockey players
Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen