Know your Indian Olympian: 10 things you need to know about Rupinder Pal Singh

Rupinder Pal Singh was awarded ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the recently concluded 2016 CIL HIL (credits: HIL)

6. He was selected as the vice-captain for the Indian national team at the 2014 Hockey World Cup, but unfortunately, the Indian team finished 9th in the mega event with Rupinder finding the back of the net on a couple of occasions.

7. He was axed from the Indian set-up for the 2015 Hockey World League semis, Antwerp by then national coach Paul van Ass as he picked V Raghunath in front of the 6’3 tall defender. However, his luck shined at him and he was recalled for the HWL semis following an injury to Raghunath in the training. Unfortunately, Rupinder was also injured in a warm-up game just a week before the tournament began in Belgium.

8. Rupinder’s biggest triumph came in the 2015 Hockey World League finals, when India having lost the semi-final tie against Belgium, won their 3rd / 4th position tie against Netherlands in a penalty shootout to end India’s 33-year medal drought in an FIH tournament.

Rupinder Pal Singh struck the decisive penalty stroke as he breached the defence of the Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak to trigger wild celebrations at the Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel International Stadium in Raipur.

“I’m sure this bronze medal effort will lift Indian hockey to new heights in future”

9. Rupinder was bought by the Delhi-based franchise Delhi Waveriders for a whopping sum of US $56,000 at the start of the 2014 Hockey India League. The fullback helped the Waveriders to claim their 1st HIL title with him finding the back of the net on 6 occasions.

10. Despite Rupinder’s contribution to the team, the fullback was not retained by the Delhi-based franchise for the recently concluded Hockey India League. However, the Waveriders secured his services again, this time for a much larger sum of US $68,000 at the 2016 HIL auction.

Rupinder returned the faith shown on him by the Waveriders management and went on to become the 3rd highest goal scorer(12) at the 2016 edition of the HIL. Due to his heroics, the Waveriders finished 3rd and the fullback was awarded the ‘Player of the Tournament’ trophy and a cash prize of INR 50,00,000.