NEW DELHI: All hell broke loose for Jarmanpreet Singh in 2015 when a shot for back pain by a village doctor put him in the doping net, and the 19-year-old back then was banned from playing competitive hockey for two years. Almost a decade since, it’s a different life for the defender — as an Olympic medallist and soon-to-be Arjuna award recipient.
“I was elated when I got the news (shortlisted for Arjuna) because it’s every player’s dream to get such a big honour,” said Jarmanpreet, the glee in his voice rolling the clock back to 2014-15.
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He was picked up by the Punjab franchise of Hockey India League during its initial avatar. The bright kid from Jalandhar’s famous Surjit Hockey Academy — one of the nurseries of Indian hockey — impressed the scouts with his skills at the back, besides packing a punch with his tall frame.
But the elation of rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best hockey players didn’t last long. The pain-killer injection administered by the doctor in his village Rajdhan in Amritsar district contained one of the banned substances and traces of it were found in his urine sample for a dope test in January 2015.
(Photo Source: @jarmanpreet04 on X)
“It was a really tough phase because for a player to get disconnected from the sport for two years (is a setback),” said the 28-year-old defender, who is now an established member of the Indian team, while talking to Timesofindia.com.
“But now when I look back at it, I recall it as a learning phase of my career. It taught me a lot about life, relations and how important is the family that had the biggest role to play at that time with their support. They stood by me at every step of the way.”
It would have been easier for Jarmanpreet to give up the sport and maybe settle abroad, as is the trend with young kids in Punjab. But he chose the tougher route because he wanted to repair the damage his self-respect went through.
(Photo Source: @jarmanpreet04 on X)
He quietly kept working on his game and fitness during those two years and made a comeback at the 2017 Nationals. It didn’t take long for him after that to impress the national selectors and find a place among the core probables.
In about a year and a half since making his comeback, Jarmanpreet was recalled to the national squad for the Champions Trophy in 2018, and the team returned from the Netherlands with a silver medal.
Jarmanpreet, who is employed with the Income Tax Department, was hoping to make the cut for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021; but wasn’t in the shortlist of then India coach Graham Reid and the Hockey India selectors. Once again, he didn’t lose hope.
Jarmanpreet straightened even the finest of creases in his game with hardwork and turned into a refined player under coach Craig Fulton, punching his ticket to the Paris Olympics, where India won a bronze medal for a second straight finish on the podium.
It was then just a matter of time before he found his name among the list of Arjuna award recipients for 2024.
“I was very happy. The family back home too was happy to hear about this. A family has the biggest role in a player’s journey,” said Jarmanpreet.
(Photo Source: @jarmanpreet04 on X)
A staunch Sikh, who has a distinct appearance on the field with his open beard, Jarmanpreet never forgets to thank the powers above through thick and thin.
“I thank the Almighty, without whose blessings we can’t do anything. He took time to bless me, but He did in the end.”
