Bharat Chettri is noted field Hockey player of India who is famed as one of the most enduring goalkeepers of the Indian Hockey team. Initially he learnt Hockey at the Danapur Army School and was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1997 Junior Nationals. He has exhibited his excellent playing skills since a young age. He began his professional career in Hockey in the year 1998 by joining the Sports Authority of India`s Centre of Excellence situated in Bengaluru.
Early Life of Bharat Chettri
Bharat Chettri was born in the year 1982 in Kalimpong, situated in West Bengal, to an Army personnel. He hails from the Nepali community of Kalimpong. He did his schooling from Danapur Army School.
Career of Bharat Chettri
Bharat Chettri marked his debut in the international Hockey in the year 2001 by being a part of Prime Minister`s Gold Cup tournament in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In the 2001 World Cup in Hobart he was appointed as the vice-captain of the team and gained applauses for his brilliant performance. His game as well as fortune both rose in the year 2005 when he once again received a call for the Mini World Cup. In the same year he earned huge applauses for his stunning game in the Champions Trophy, organized in Chennai. Although many a time he encountered harsh periods which kept him away from the Indian team, he always managed to return with a bang.
In October 2011 Bharat Chettri was appointed as the captain of the Indian national team for the first time for the four-nation Super Series along with an international tournament in Australia. Bharat Chettri has also led the Indian Hockey team of 18-member Indian squad as a captain for the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. The Indian team under his captainship won the Bronze Medal. In the 2012 Olympic Games in London he also led the 16-member Indian Hockey squad. However owing to poor performances at the Olympics he was dropped from the team along with other players like Shivendra Singh and Sandeep Singh. During the first edition of the Hockey India League, Punjab Warriors bought Bharat Chettri in the second round of the auction. After the 2010 World Cup he was recalled for the national training camp.
Personal Life of Bharat Chettri
Bharat Chettri is married to Geeta since 19th August 2012. He also works at the Canara Bank in Bengaluru.
