Another sports based biopic is ready to hit the theaters as the duo of Diljit Dosanjh and Shaad Ali are ready to bring Soorma, depicting the life of former India captain Sandeep Singh. The movie beautifully depicts the comeback of Sandeep Singh who once was paralyzed by a gunshot in a train. As his biopic roles on, we bring you some of the unheard and unknown Sandeep Singh facts.
Born
Sandeep was born on 27 february, 1986 to Gurcharan Singh Bhinder and Daljit Kaur Bhinder in Shahabad, Haryana, India.
Inspiration
Sandeep got inspired from his elder brother Bikramjeet Singh who was also a hockey player and won India’s first ever Junior hockey world cup 2001.
Initial days
Sandeep is the youngest player to make his India debut at 17 years, 10 months and 11 days old at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia against Germany. He established himself as the primary drag-flicker of the team at a very young age.
Tragedy that changed his life forever
Sandeep was selected for 2006 FIH World Cup in Germany. He was travelling on the Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express from Ambala to Delhi when a Railway Protection Force officer accidentally shot him on 22 August 2006. The bullet fractured his rib, damaged his spine, kidneys and liver. The doctors said that it would be next to impossible to see Sandeep on the hockey field yet again.
A promise to his brother and comeback
Sandeep was at the PGIMER Chandigarh, after suffering from the life ending injury. He asked his brother Bikramjeet Singh, who was also a hockey player to bring him his hockey stick and holding it his hands promised himself and his brother that he would play hockey again. Despite being in the wheel chair for almost two years, he made return to the India team in 2008 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and was the highest goal scorer in the tournament with 8 goals.
Glimses of onscreen Diljit practising at the railway station. Story behind it?
In the video teaser it was seen that Diljit who played the role of Sandeep was doing practise at a railway station. It is believed that the railways had given him a big wound so he started practising hockey at the railway station to recover quickly.
Marrying a hockey player
Sandeep married an International women’s hockey player Harjinder Kaur in 2008. The best part is that they met on the hockey field at his hometown Shahabad in Haryana’s Kurukshetra. After marriage, Singh requested Harjinder to give up her career and become a full-time homemaker. After the birth of their first child, Harjinder gave up playing hockey.
Captaincy
Sandeep was named the captain of Indian hockey team in 2009. In his reign as the leader he led Indian team to the Sultan Azlan Shah triumph in 2009 and also won the player of the tournament award. He later went on to help India qualify for the 2012 London Olympics after the team failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics for the very first time in Olympic history.
An invincible record
In the final of 2012 Olympic qualifiers against France, Singh scored five goals all from penalty corners to help India win in style.
An Arjuna awardee
For his contribution to Indian hockey, Singh was awarded with India’s highest sporting honour- Arjuna award in 2010.
Downfall
Sandeep failed to fire in the 2012 London Olympics and as a result India lost all their matches and finished at the last spot. As a result, he was dropped from the Indian team for nine months. He was dropped from the Asian Champions Trophy, Azlan Shah Cup, Champions Trophy and World League Round 2. It was then when his good friend cricketer Harbhajan Singh stepped up and help him get through the bad phase.
Bhaji adviced him to continue working hard and spend quality time with his family. Singh followed his advice and returned to the national-fold for the FIH World League Round 3 in Netherlands.
Hockey India League
Sandeep was brought for a sum of $64,400 by Dabur Mumbai Magicians in the inaugural season of the HIL. His team had a bad run and finished last in the points table but Sandeep was lethal with his drag flicks as he scored 11 goals and emerged as the top goal scorer of the tournament.
Dropped from the team
Despite being the top drag flicker in the world, Sandeep was criticized for his defensive lapses that didn’t help the cause of a low lying Indian team of that time. As a results the selectors gave more opportunities to good defenders and drag flickers like Rupinder Pal Singh and VR Raghunath.
Success in HIL
Sandeep was then signed to Ranchi Rays in 2013 season and then later went to Jaypee Punjab Warriors in 2014 and 2015, scoring 22 goals. He was later brought by Ranchi Rays in 2016 season.
Fastest drag flicke
Sandeep once fired the ball past the net what measured a whooping 145 km/hr. He continues to be the one to deliver the fastest drag flicks in world hockey.
A police man
Sandeep is currently serving as a DGP in Haryana Police. He is also seen at discussion panel for the sports broadcasters
Conclusion
Sandeep’s chances of getting a farewell match looks uncertain but his fierce drag flick skills will always be unmatchable. He still continues to be the highest goal scorer for the country and the drag flicker with highest conversion rate from penalty corners.
