"No team has witnessed Sanjay's drag-flicks" - Harmanpreet Singh names India's penalty corner trump card ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics
At Rio 2016, Harmanpreet Singh came into the Indian men's hockey team as an exciting young prospect who grew into his role as India's first-choice drag-flicker after the Tokyo Games. Now, billed as one of the best drag-flickers in world hockey along with being a senior defender for the Indian side, Harmanpreet also wears the captain's armband.
The player from Amritsar, however, stresses that he does not feel burdened while also adding that the team now has a new drag-flick option that could surprise the opposition in Paris.
During an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, Harmanpreet Singh revealed that the Indians now plan to use Sanjay as the penalty corner trump card option since none of the teams have witnessed his drag-flicks.
"It has been an incredible hockey journey for me and I have learned a lot in the process. I do not feel any pressure but I do take it as a responsibility to be India's main drag-flicker. I have taken on the role ever since I came into the team and I try to do the best I can whenever I get the opportunity," Harmanpreet said.
"Amit Rohidas also shares the responsibility as a senior drag-flicker and now we have Sanjay as well. No team has witnessed Sanjay's drag flicks and that will be a big positive for us at the olympics/paris-olympics' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>olympics/paris-olympics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">Olympics," he added.
Sanjay, who won the Hockey India Jugraj Singh award for Upcoming Player of the Year in 2021, was part of India's gold-medal-winning team at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Harmanpreet Singh also explained why scoring from penalty corners is getting increasingly difficult for most sides.
"First-runners of teams are getting better just as we are as well. Therefore, scoring penalty corner goals is also becoming increasingly more challenging. As such, it's important to be able to analyze the strengths of the opposition and develop strategies to counter the same," the Indian captain stated.
Video analysis of the running pattern of first-runners and the positioning of goalkeepers is what helps drag-flickers decide where to position their penalty corner strikes.
"The running patterns of the first-runners and the positioning of goalkeepers is something that we pay a lot of attention to when assessing the opposing team. Playing smart is therefore the key in order to obtain the desired outcomes. Video analysis of short corners in the team meetings is something that we do frequently," he disclosed.
"As a defensive unit, we tried different strategies during the Pro League" - Harmanpreet Singh
Harmanpreet Singh, who also spearheads the Indian defensive unit which includes Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, and Sanjay, stated that the Indians tried out a variety of strategies in defense during the FIH Pro League.
The Indians conceded 35 goals in 16 games during their Pro League campaign.
"As a defensive unit, we tried different strategies during the FIH Pro League some of which were successful. As a team, we are attempting to strengthen our defense as it is of the utmost importance," he asserted.
"The connection between the strikers, midfielders, defenders, and also goalkeepers is something we are working on as well as on solidifying our structure. Each player is briefed extensively on the responsibilities that he carries in the team," the 28-year-old said.
In a Group B game of the men's hockey competition in Paris, the Indians will be taking on defending champions Belgium, who they lost to in knockout games at Rio 2016 and at the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite Belgium not doing too well in the FIH Pro League, Harmanpreet Singh opined that the Red Lions will bounce back during the Olympics.
The Indian captain reasoned that much like his side, Belgium too opted to bring in youngsters to the squad which could have impacted their Pro League performance.
"The Belgians are a really good team and like us, they opted to experiment with their team which may have impacted their performance in the Pro League. I am sure that our match against them in Paris will be just as competitive as the ones before," the Arjuna awardee reckoned.
Looking back at the Tokyo Olympics, Harmanpreet lauded his team for the incredible comeback they manufactured against Germany in the bronze-medal match.
"Every match that we played at the Tokyo Olympics, including the one that we lost will continue to be memorable for us. That said, the bronze-medal match against Germany is a contest that will remain etched in our memories forever," Harmanpreet Singh affirmed.
"To manufacture a comeback after trailing against Germany in such a big match was an incredible achievement for us as a team," said the player who ended up as the highest scorer in two successive editions (2021-22 and 2022-23) of the Hockey Pro League.
The Indians take on New Zealand in the opening match of the men's hockey competition on Saturday, July 27.