Indian hockey player Jarmanpreet Singh believes the return of the Hockey India League (HIL) will be a significant boost for budding players, providing them with valuable exposure to international players and ultimately aiding India in its pursuit of the gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
In an interview with ANI, Jarmanpreet expressed his enthusiasm for the league’s comeback and discussed topics such as Team India’s bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics 2024, their Asian Champions Trophy triumph, and the retirement of legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
Speaking about HIL’s return, Jarmanpreet said, “Yes (if it will help Team India get LA 2028 Gold). It is a fine step by Hockey India to bring back HIL. It will give up and coming players a fine chance to learn and improve their game. It will give them experience. I thank Hockey India for the same. When we will play with foreigners alongside us, we will get to know their good and bad, their way of thinking.”
He further elaborated, “This will give players a better idea about the game. When it was going on previously, I was a junior. I learnt a lot from this league. There were a lot of Australian players in the Punjab Warriors, I learnt about their game, attitude and environment. On gold, we are working as we want to bring gold. Wherever we fall short, we are working hard. Hope we will bring gold in coming events.”
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The Hockey India League is set to kick off on December 28, with matches scheduled at two venues—the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The women’s league will conclude on January 26, 2025, in Ranchi, while the men’s final will be held on February 1, 2025, in Rourkela.
Reflecting on the team’s recent achievements, including the Olympic bronze and the Asian Champions Trophy win, Jarmanpreet emphasized the resurgence of Indian hockey. “It is a matter of pride for us all that our national sport is finally coming back on track in terms of performance. The golden age of Indian hockey has come again. Winning back-to-back medals (in the Olympics) is really great. It is about changing the colours of the medal now. We would definitely do it next time.”
He also credited coach Craig Fulton for the team’s improvement, highlighting his analytical approach. “Such information helps us a lot before our matches. He is very hardworking and makes us work. He is extremely committed to the team,” Jarmanpreet said.
Praising team captain Harmanpreet Singh, he remarked, “He has a big role in the team and is one of the best drag flickers in the world. He uses his experience well and helps the team. It is a team game as he says and everything is done as a team.” Harmanpreet’s tally of 10 goals was the highest in the 2024 Olympics.
On the retirement of PR Sreejesh, Jarmanpreet acknowledged the challenges ahead for goalkeepers Krishna Bahadur Pathak, Suraj, and Pawan but expressed confidence in their abilities. “Him (PR Sreejesh) being in the team was important. But as per time, players have to go as they can only play till a certain age. Krishna is a fine player, he has a lot of experience. He has played a lot with Sreejesh and has learnt a lot from him. For Krishna, it would not be challenging as he has a lot of experience already. He is at his peak. Other goalkeepers who will come will face challenges as it is not easy to play at such level. Suraj and Pawan are with the team for a while and will do good,” he said.
PR Sreejesh concluded his international career with a stellar performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, where India secured the bronze medal. Known for his leadership and composure under pressure, Sreejesh was instrumental in crucial moments throughout his career. His illustrious legacy includes two Olympic bronze medals (2020, 2024), two Asian Games gold medals (2014, 2022), an Asian Games bronze medal (2018), and two Commonwealth Games silver medals (2014, 2022), among numerous other accolades.
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