Bhubaneswar: Back in the national side after an injury hiatus, drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh stated Wednesday that his primary objective is to fulfil his defensive responsibilities before he thinks of scoring goals.
Rupinder plays the role of a sweeper in front of the centre-backs forming the vital link between the forwards and the defenders. His ability to defend and attack makes him a vital cog in the Indian side. Rupinder also stated that he is looking at the upcoming World Hockey league Finals (WHLF) as a fresh start to his career.
“This is a fresh start for me. I will be donning the national colours after a long time and I want to bring in positive energy on the field,” Rupinder stated. One of the most important things that I have learnt is to perceive the state of a game and play accordingly. Hence, I am keen to test my skill against the opposition in the HWLF. I am determined to do well,” added the tall, lanky player.
Rupinder also pointed out that every single player in the team has a defensive role to play. “The aim is not to concede a goal and for that all the 11, not just the defenders, have to contribute,” he asserted. “We have worked on this aspect and prepared accordingly.”
Apart from his own role as drag-flicker and defender for India, Rupinder also plays the role of a mentor guiding youngsters in Varun Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Dipsan Tirkey and Amit Rohidas. “They know their roles well and execute them to perfection but as a senior I try and motivate them to get the best out of them,” he informed.
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