Sardara Singh: The "Sardar" every team requires

Bulging muscles, stout figure and a decent height, Sardara Singh (also referred as Sardar Singh), the current captain of the Indian National Hockey team has all the common traits of a Sikh Sardar. Besides his imposing physique, the man does what his name stands for. Sardar which literally means ‘Chief’, is the one who is the leader of a unit, one who leads by example.

Sardar Singh, for the past few years has captained the Indian Hockey team in a way that befits his name. It was under his able leadership that India won the 2014 Asian Games gold medal after a long hiatus (16 years) and directly qualified for Rio Olympics, 2016. Recently played his 200th international match for India, it won’t be a hyperbole to say that he has been “the wall” of the Indian hockey team.

Hailing from the sleepy town of Sirsa, Haryana, Sardar is the brother of Didar Singh, a former national hockey player. Starting his journey under his brother’s guidance, he enrolled himself in a hockey academy at a very tender age. Unable to cope with the strict training schedule of the game, he twice quit hockey only to be cajoled back by his mother.

The hard-work finally paid off when he made his senior debut against Pakistan in 2006. Slowly gaining ground and needed experience, the big break arrived when he was named the youngest ever captain in 2008 for the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament.

Since then Sardar has achieved almost everything what a hockey player dreams of. Starting from a bronze medal in Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament in 2006 held at Malaysia to two consecutive silver medals in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014, he has amassed many accolades for India.

The rise in his game was stamp-proofed when he was included in the 18-men FIH All-Star team twice in 2010 & 2011, nominated for the world player of the year in 2012 along the ranks of players like Moritz Fuerste and Jamie Dwyer. His personal best achievement came when his impressive showing at the 2013 Asia Cup, encouraged the Dutch club, HC Bloemendaal to sign him as a replacement for the legendary Teun de Nooijer.

The added responsibility of captaincy hasn't marred his performance, in fact it has spurred him to achieve great heights. He is now considered one of the world's best play makers. He has led by example and with an aura of humility. He is a true 'Sardar' which every team wants and looks for. Under his charismatic leadership, Indian hockey promises to touch great milestones in the coming years.