How International-Retired Rupinder Pal Singh Ensured Bengal Tigers Roared Big Time Against Team Gonasika
Rupinder Pal Singh is no stranger to playing club hockey across the globe. He has turned out for the Australian Hockey League (Hockey One) for Canberra Chill as well as for Dutch hockey club Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club (Top-tier Dutch league – Men’s Hoofdklasse Hockey), On the domestic front, he previously wore the Delhi Waveriders jersey in the first five editions of the Hockey India League and is now turning out for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the HIL 6th edition.
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Nicknamed ‘Bobby’, the 6’4″ tall defender who made 223 international appearances and scored 119 goals during his highly decorated 13-year international playing career, was called upon to resurrect the fortunes of the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in their second game of the 6th Men’s Hockey India League.
The 34-year-old Bengal Tiger captain shouldered the drag-flicking responsibilities after his fellow team-mate Jugraj Singh made a hash of several short corner opportunities against Team Gonasika – it needed the international-retired burly fullback to break the logjam after both teams shared the honours in the first half with a scoreless scoresheet.
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Although Rupinder’s goal-scoring joy was short-lived by former Indian captain Manpreet Singh with a quick riposte, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers landed the match-winner blow on Team Gonasika in the final quarter. Rupinder profited from a penalty stroke opportunity beating in-form Team Gonasika’s Great Britain & England goalkeeper Ollie Payne to his right.
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Rupinder, who was employed with the Indian Overseas Bank for a long time, has subsequently moved to his home state Punjab and is now a Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer. Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers would hope for the former Indian deep defender to come out all guns blazing in their upcoming games as well so that they make it to the knockout phase sans much sweat.
