Last Update: January 09, 2023, 13:04 IST
Abhishek (HI), player of the Indian men’s hockey team
Indian men’s hockey team forward Abhishek said he is nervous and excited about the 2023 FIH World Cup
A relatively new addition to the Indian team, young forward Abhishek is all set to make a mark in the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s. World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela, commencing on 13th January.
The 23-year-old, who made his FIH Hockey Pro League debut last season, said, “Playing for India The World Cup at home is a dream come true for me.”
“There is a lot of excitement, but at the same time, I am also a little nervous. This will not only be my first World Cup, but also my first experience of playing in front of a huge crowd. The people of Odisha are very passionate about hockey and it will be a great experience for me to play in front of them.”
Abhishek’s hockey journey began at the age of 11 in Sonipat, Haryana, when he saw his friends playing the game at his school. The son of an army man showcased his skills under his school teacher and coach Shamsher Singh.
“After starting with my school, I got selected in the National Hockey Academy, Delhi and after playing for Haryana in the National Championship between 2013-2015, I earned my call-up for the junior camp,” he said.
Abhishek was part of the Indian team that won the 2016 Under-18 Asian Cup in Bangladesh. He scored the winning goal in the team’s 5–4 victory against the hosts in the final. However, the forward could not progress further and was dropped from the junior national camp. “I missed out on a place in the 2016 Junior World Cup squad as I was relatively young, and was dropped from the junior national camp. It was a big disappointment for me,” he reflected.
Nearly three years later, Abhishek’s hard work paid off as he got a call-up for the Senior National Camp and helped Punjab National Bank finish third in the inaugural Hockey India Senior Men’s Inter-Department National Championship 2021. With six goals, he was the second highest goalscorer in the tournament.
“Those three years were challenging for me, but my coach and department supported me throughout. He helped me overcome that difficult phase. And after having a good domestic season in 2021, I was confident of getting selected for the main draw,” Abhishek said.
The Haryana player was an integral part of the Indian team that finished third in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22 and won the silver medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
With just four days left for the World Cup, Abhishek said, “After the Commonwealth Games, my family is now hoping for a medal in the World Cup. The whole country is looking forward to it. I am sure we are fully up for the challenge.” We are ready and will give our best to make our country proud.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)