Bengaluru (Karnataka)[India], November 24 (ANI): Amandeep Lakra, the spirited defender of the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team, is elated about making the lower to symbolize the nation on the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in Malaysia subsequent month. India will start their marketing campaign towards Korea on December 5 of their Pool C recreation at 15:30 hours IST.
Sharing his pleasure for the distinguished occasion, he mirrored on his journey as a younger participant and being impressed by Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr Dilip Tirkey, a former India Captain and one in every of India’s best defenders. Dilip can be India’s most-capped participant. “As an aspiring player, I had the opportunity to meet the legendary Dilip Tirkey, who told me that he used to work out for four hours a day,” he stated, earlier than including, “He also advised us to be hardworking and focused in our efforts to become good players. His words inspired me, and I began making similar efforts. I started out at Panposh Sports Academy, but after my father was transferred, I had to stop playing.”He additionally acknowledged that he’s impressed by the drag-flicking skills of present India Captain Harmanpreet Singh. “Watching him train closely here in SAI Bengaluru, I get to learn a lot from him and his on-field focus and style,” Amandeep stated.
“I faced a little bit of difficulty finding places to train, so I started training on grass with my father,” he stated of his early challenges as a budding participant, earlier than including, “Then I received a call informing me that I had been invited to join the SAI Centre in Bhopal as part of the Khelo India scheme in 2020. Later, I returned to play in Nationals for Odisha and was chosen for the National Camp based on my performance.”Amandeep performed Sub Junior Nationals in 2015 in Delhi and in 2016 in Manipur and made his Junior Nationals debut for the Hockey Association of Odisha in 2021 on the eleventh Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2021 in Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu, the place he helped his aspect win the Bronze medal.
In 2021, Amandeep additionally acquired a name to the Junior Men’s National Camp and he made his debut for the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey workforce on the 2022 Sultan of Johor Cup, the place he helped India win the Gold medal. There’s been no trying again for this teen from Odisha as he went on to symbolize India on the Men’s Junior Asia Cup earlier this yr and helped India win the historic Gold medal.
He recalled being spurred by his senior compatriot’s historic efficiency within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics the place they ended a 41-year-long await a medal by clinching the Bronze, spurred Amandeep’s willpower to play for India. He stated, “I started dreaming about achieving the same milestone and upon sharing the same with my father, he said that hard work was the only way I would get there.”As he ready to participate within the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from fifth December to sixteenth December 2023, Lakra elaborated on the workforce’s preparations and the temper within the squad. He stated, “We have had a fantastic preparatory camp. We identified chinks in our armour and worked on them to cover all aspects of our game. Each and every one of us has worked extremely hard and there’s great camaraderie in the camp. I will give this tournament my all and hopefully contribute significantly to winning the Men’s Junior World Cup.” (ANI)