Amandeep Lakra, the spirited defender of the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey
Team, is elated about making the cut to represent the nation at the upcoming
FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in Malaysia next month.
India will begin their campaign against Korea on December 5 in their Pool
C game at 15:30 hours IST.
Sharing his excitement for the prestigious event, he reflected on his
journey as a young player and being inspired by Hockey India President Padma
Shri Dr Dilip Tirkey, a former India Captain and one of India’s greatest
defenders. Dilip is also India’s most-capped player.
“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 said,
before adding, “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.”
Lakra stated he is impressed by the drag-flicking abilities of current
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,” said
Amandeep.
“I faced a little bit of difficulty finding places to train, so I started
training on grass with my father,” he said of his early challenges as a budding
player, before adding, “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 played 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 at the 11th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2021
in Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu, where he helped his side win Bronze.
In 2021, Amandeep received a call to the Junior Men’s National Camp and
he made his debut for the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey team at the 2022 Sultan of
Johor Cup, where he helped India win Gold.
There’s been no looking back for this youngster from Odisha as he went on
to represent India at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup earlier this year and helped
India win the historic Gold.
He recalled being spurred by his senior compatriot’s historic performance
in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where they ended a 41-year-long wait for a medal by
clinching the Bronze, spurred Amandeep’s determination to play for India.
Lakra said, “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 prepared to take part in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from December 5 to December 16, Lakra elaborated on
the team’s preparations and the mood in the squad.
He said, “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
