Sandeep Singh is an Indian hockey player. He is well known in Indian hockey team as a most determined player in this century. Sandeep Singh was born on 27th February 1986. He is also the former captain of Indian Hockey Team.
Early Life of Sandeep Singh
Sandeep Singh is hailing from Shahabad town in Kurukshetra District of Haryana. He was born to Gurcharan Singh Saini and Daljit Kaur Saini. His elder brother, Bikramjeet Singh, is also a field hockey player and plays for Indian Oil in domestic level. Sandeep Singh generally features as a full back and is a penalty corner specialist for the team. Sandeep Singh is currently holding a Deputy Superintendent of Police rank in the Haryana Police. He belongs to the Bhinder Sikh community of Haryana.
Career of Sandeep Singh
The international debut of Sandeep Singh was in January 2004 in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He took over as the captain of the Indian national team in January 2009, and Rajpal Singh succeeded him later in 2010. Sandeep Singh is a well known drag-flicker. At a time, Sandeep Singh was said to have the best speed in the world in drag flick of speed 145 km per hour. Under his captaincy, the Indian hockey team managed to clinch the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in the year 2009 after defeating Malaysia in the finals at Ipoh. Indian Hockey Team won the title after a long wait of 13 years. Sandeep Singh was also the top goal scorer of the tournament.
The men`s national field hockey team in India have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London after a gap of 8 years. The team had a resounding victory over France in the finals of the Olympic qualifiers by beating France in 8-1. Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh starred in the final against France by scoring five goals, which is including a hat-trick - all from penalty corners (19th, 26th, 38th, 49th and 51st minutes). Sandeep Singh was the highest scorer of the Olympic qualifiers tournament by scoring 16 goals.
Sandeep Singh became the fifth highest-paid marquee player at the inaugural Hockey India League auctions in the Mumbai franchise The Mumbai team in Hockey India League has been named Mumbai Magicians. There he scored 11 goals in 12 games. Sandeep Singh emerged as the top scorer in the first edition of the league.
Accident of Sandeep Singh
On 22 August 2006, Sandeep Singh was seriously injured after being hit by an accidental gunshot in Shatabadi train, while on his way to join the Indian national team to leave for the World Cup in Germany two days later.
Awards by Sandeep Singh
Sandeep Singh was awarded the Man of the Tournament Award in the year 2009 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Sandeep Singh scored 16 goals in 2012 London Olympics and he became the leading goal scorer in the qualifying tournament. In the year 2010, Sandeep Singh was awarded Arjuna Award for his achievement in hockey in India.
