Jalandhar: “The day we won the bronze medal, I stayed up all night, remembering my life’s journey. Life has never been easy, I have struggled with my health… I have come a long way,” said Sukhjeet Singh from Jalandhar, his eyes welling up with tears. Suffering from partial paralysis a few years ago, Sukhjeet played his first Olympics and won a medal for the country. A rare feat. When Jalandhar’s star players – Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Hardik Singh and Sukhjeet Singh – arrived in the city wearing bronze medals, they were greeted with a grand roadshow, drum beats and bhangra. Enthusiastic fans followed the convoy and took selfies with the champions.
The players looked overwhelmed remembering their long struggles. Sukhjeet’s father Ajit Singh is from Punjab Police. “When Team India won the bronze medal, I remembered the days when my son was suffering from paralysis. Jo mushkil da daur si, ohanu ve handle kita mehtaam karke. He emerged strongly from the tough times. Those bad memories will now be erased. As a father, I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” he said. Sukhjit Singh hails from Rama Mandi, Hardik Singh hails from Khusropur village and Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh are natives of Mithapur. Their family members had prepared special food for them – “vyaah wali taiyari kitti hai (It’s a grand celebration, just like a wedding),” the excited parents said.
Team vice-captain Hardik Singh, who was seen crying when the Indian team was knocked out of the gold medal race, expressed his feelings: “There is some sadness in our hearts, but we should not forget that we won the bronze medal after 41 years in Tokyo, and this time again in Paris.” He said that the youth should embrace sports in their lives. He said, “Sports help in staying focused and staying away from addiction.” Hardik Singh’s mother, who was in Paris and watched all the matches, said: “We are proud of the medal and the team.” Former team captain Manpreet Singh, under whose leadership the team won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, said that their victory is an inspiration for future generations.
