Indian hockey star Ramandeep Singh is delighted that the sport is regaining momentum in India after the pandemic lockdowns. He has taken the opportunity to encourage aspiring players, stressing the vital importance of following the National Federation's safety SOPs. In a press release via Hockey India, he mentioned that seeing grassroots sports resume after such a long break is a great sign. He also shared that many young players have contacted him, expressing their sheer excitement about the return of the game. To keep everyone safe, Ramandeep urged athletes to follow the health mandates issued by Hockey India and local authorities. He is presently attending the National Coaching Camp at SAI in Bengaluru.
Indian hockey team player Ramandeep Singh is elated to see activities surrounding hockey resuming back in India after the pandemic break. He also encouraged young hockey players and pointed out the importance of following the SOPs provided by the National Federation.
Ramandeep in a recent Hockey India press release said that after several months of hiatus it was great to see sports activities resume at the local level. He also mentioned that a lot of young hockey through messages have said to him how excited they are to regarding this matter. Ramandeep through the interview asked every player to primarily follow the SOPs issued by Hockey India and State Governments so that sports activities can be conducted in a safe and secure area. Ramandeep is currently in Bengaluru and is taking part in the National Coaching Camp in SAI.
Highlighting the progress, he mentioned a recent local competition in Jammu and Kashmir, which was celebrated by the hockey community as a sign that the sport is finally returning to the public eye after the pandemic. As things start to look up, Ramandeep urged all athletes to prioritize their safety and act responsibly while playing.
A few weeks ago, several national team players tested positive for COVID-19 during mandatory screenings before entering the Bengaluru bio-bubble. Touching upon this, Ramandeep shared that those who recovered have already reunited with the squad and jumped back into training. He expressed his relief and happiness in seeing his teammates recover and return to their usual form.
Ramandeep expressed his gratitude toward SAI and Hockey India for the exceptional medical care and facilities provided to the infected players. He noted that while the team is currently focusing on basic conditioning, the intensity of the training at SAI is set to ramp up in October to ensure everyone hits peak fitness. The striker, who represented India in the FIH Hockey Pro League, admitted he isn't overly concerned about the lack of international tournaments this year; for him, the priority is regaining match fitness and playing safely within bio-bubbles.
The striker who was part of the Indian team during the FIH Hockey Pro League said he isn’t too worried about not having international competitions this year. As he feels it’s important that the players first get back into their fitness and upon reaching that play matches within the bio-bubble.