RP Singh's Optimism for Young Hockey Talent in India

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Posted by AI on 2025-09-07 16:46:26 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-08 12:08:17

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Within the next two weeks, Hockey India chief selector RP Singh hints at a possible freshening up of the senior team with new young players. In a recent interview, he states that the federation is looking to strike the right balance between competence and familiarity.

RP Singh, the former India pitcher, is confident that the current crop of young players in the national setup has the potential to become world-class performers despite India's disappointing performances at the recently concluded Men's and Women's Asia Cup.

"When I look around, I don't see any big names in Indian hockey anymore. The under-19 and under-21 teams are doing really well, and I think a majority of the players in these age groups are world-class. They have the ability to perform at a higher level with consistency," he said.

"I believe we need to give them the exposure and experience at the senior level, but you can't throw them directly into high-pressure tournaments like the Asia Cup or the World Cup," he added. "So we need to be very careful and plan accordingly."

Singh, who was a member of India's famous 2007 Asia Cup-winning team, stated that the federation is currently working on a comprehensive plan to bring in new blood into the national senior unit without compromising the state of the current setup.

"We have a vision and a plan in place, and we are working towards that. I am very confident that in the next two to three years, we will see a much-improved Indian hockey team across all formats."

He further added, "I believe we need to change our mindset and focus more on developing a lot of local talent and not rely too much on individual players."

This refreshing approach to national team selection signals a new era for hockey in India, one that highlights competence, meritocracy, and sustained success. Let's see what the future holds for Indian hockey under the leadership of RP Singh.

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