Jugraj Singh - A hero of his own story

Jugraj Singh was one of the finest drag-flicker India had ever produced so far and considered to be the next Sohail Abbas by many experts. In a series against Pakistan, he performed so well that the Abbas himself said, "he could see a younger version of him in Singh"

A hockey Star was born in a cricket loving country

Jugraj Singh played a key role in India's gold medal run during the 2001 Junior World Cup, but came to the limelight during Champions Trophy match against strong pakistani side on 2003 at Amsterdam when he singlehandedly denied Pakistan the victory. Down 2-4 by the seventh minute of the second half, The Indians led by the Jugraj Singh staged a magnificent comeback to score five goals in the second half. In that match, Jugraj Singh denied Sohail Abbas multiple times to score goals and also scored two fantastic goals from the penalty corners. After that match, he never looked back and became the mainstay of India's defense as well as the main force to score goals from penalty corners. Suddenly a hockey Star was born in a cricket loving nation.

The entire nation was expecting him to carry India to the podium of 2004 Athens Olympics. But with the Athens Olympic around the corner, destiny deceived Jugraj Singh and his whole world when he was badly injured in a terrible road accident near Jalandhar. The 20-year-old India's hockey sensation was driving the car, which also had two of his friends along with him when it hit into an electric post trying to avoid a cycle rikshaw. He suffered multiple fractures on his right elbow, right hand & foot. The accident was enough to end the Olympic Medal dream of Jugraj as well as the hockey lovers.

Searching for new dreams

He never played for the nation again but a fighter like him is unlikely to go down in life so easily without putting any mark. He wanted to train the youngsters and was awarded an opportunity to coach the junior national team as a penalty corner specialist.He picked four players from the entire lot & one of them is the renowned drag flicker and current star Rupinder Pal Singh. In an Interview Rupinder said "I did not achieve this overnight.My drag flick coach Jugraj has worked hard for that. I owe my success to him''. He also added that " If Jugraj did not meet with an accident in 2003, he might have been the world record holder". Later on he also trained the likes of Sandeep Singh and Raghunath and worked as a penalty corner coach during the Azlan Shah Cup, Malaysia. His skill level was such that even the best of the players & coaches around the world wanted to learn the technique from him. Jugraj used to spend hours with the Sandeep & Raghunath and we all know that how instrumental they were in India's penalty corner conversions.

After manufacturing a player like Rupinder Pal Singh, Jugraj joined Punjab police as a DSP. When three terrorists attacked the police station in Gurdaspur he rushed to the site to neutralized the terrorists. The 12-hour-long operation was ended when all the three terrorists were killed in a fierce gun battle.

He is only 38 now and already has contributed so much to our nation. A road accident could not defeat him in life. He came back strongly in life even when medical science ruled him out to even stand on his toes. He will continue to inspire the next generations of our country. India needs heroes like him in each and every field of life.

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