KNOW ABOUT RAJPAL

Rajpal Singh (born August 8th, 1983) is the captain of India's national field hockey team. He is from Chandigarh. His local team is the Chandigarh Dynamos. The Forward made his international senior debut in 2004, Sultan Azlan Shah CUP at Malaysia. After that he is the part of every major tournament. He studied at Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh, and was a member of the Indian team that finished fifth at the 2006 at Doha Asian Games.

Q: How you joined hockey?
A: When I was in the school I use to watch hockey .I like that so I started playing hockey. After lot of hard work I was selected for junior National in 2001 which was held in Chennai where Chandigarh won Gold for the first time that was the motivation for me.

Q: Who was your motivation in hockey when you started playing?
A: My dad he is great fan of hockey. He also coached me initially, and even my elder brother Gurpreet Singh who also play hockey for ONGC.

Q: Apart from Hockey which sport you like?
A: I am a great fan of Cricket and athletics. When I was in school I participated in 4 X 100 meter and won the gold medal.

Q: How is it leading Chandigarh Dynamos in the Premier Hockey League (PHL)?A: It has lot of fun and a great experience for me.

Q: Is there any effect of condition while playing overseas?
A: Condition of ground is same every where, as about personal playing outside is always a pleasure because there is less pressure from crowd.

Q: Are you satisfied with your individual experience after Santiago debacle?
A: We have lost final that is the main thing I am not satisfied with my performance. In case we would have won then my statement would turn to yes.

Q: Before the Olympics cup qualifier you were there in preparation camp held at Australia. You made a statement “you will not play for India in the qualifiers my self respect is more important then my career” as you were having some problem with your coach. It was true?
A: yes I won’t deny from that I really said that because from the coach I was not getting respect on the field or off the field. Self respect is important to every person.

Q: How much importance you give to your studies?
A: I think study is equally important in success. Now I fell how important it is because for that reason only I did not get promotion in Indian Oil. I am an employee of Indian Oil. Now I am appearing for Bachelor of Arts.

Q: Are you happy with the working of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF)?
A: As I am getting selected so I am happy

Q: Change you desperately want in Indian Hockey?
A: There should be a senior and old player association in hockey. Who will fights for our rights.

Q: Long struggle to find sponsors for the event and lack of progress in infrastructure what do you say about this?
A: I think we need good marketing and PR teams those who can help in popularization of the game. There is nothing this sort yet. Another Sports Authority of India SAI can help in improving; they have enough budgets to improve the infrastructure.

Q: Now what do you say about our national team?
A: At this time we are at the bottom will surely bounce back. We have the potential. We will come back strongly.