Sandeep Singh facts for kids
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Sandeep Singh Saini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 27 February 1986 Shahabad, Haryana, India |
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| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Mumbai Magicians | 12 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Punjab Warriors | 1 | (22) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Ranchi Rays | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2012 | India | 186 | (138) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Last updated on: 21 January 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sandeep Singh, born on February 27, 1986, is a famous Indian field hockey player from Haryana. He used to be the captain of the Indian national hockey team. Sandeep plays as a "full back," which is a defensive position in hockey. He is also known as a "penalty corner specialist" because he is amazing at taking drag-flicks. People even call him "Flicker Singh" because his drag-flicks are some of the fastest in the world!
Besides playing hockey, Sandeep Singh also works as a police officer in Haryana. In 2019, he became a politician. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Pehowa area in Haryana. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
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Early Life and Family
Sandeep Singh grew up in a town called Shahabad in Kurukshetra, Haryana. He went to school at Shivalik Public School in Mohali. His parents are Gurucharan Singh Saini and Daljeet Kaur Saini. Sandeep has an older brother named Bikramjeet, who also plays field hockey for Indian Oil.
Sandeep Singh's Hockey Journey
Playing for India
Sandeep first played for the Indian national team in January 2004 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He became the captain of the Indian team in January 2009. He is very famous for his powerful drag-flicks. At one point, his drag-flicks were the fastest in the world, reaching speeds of 145 kilometers per hour!
Under his leadership, the Indian team won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2009. They beat Malaysia in the final game in Ipoh. This was a huge win for India, as they had not won the title in 13 years! Sandeep was also the top goal scorer in that tournament.
The Indian men's national hockey team qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London after eight years. They had a big win against France in the final qualifying game, beating them 9–1. Sandeep was the star of that game, scoring five goals! All of his goals came from penalty corners. He was the highest scorer in the Olympic qualifiers, with 16 goals.
Playing for Clubs
Sandeep Singh also played for different club teams in the Hockey India League. He was one of the highest-paid players when the league started. The Mumbai team, called Mumbai Magicians, bought him for a lot of money. He was the top scorer in the first season of the league, scoring 11 goals in 12 games.
Later, in 2014, he joined the Punjab Warriors. After playing two seasons with them, he moved to the Ranchi Rays in 2015 for the 2016 season. In 2014, Sandeep also went to the UK to play for Havant Hockey Club.
Amazing Comeback Story
On August 22, 2006, Sandeep Singh had a very serious accident. He was hit by an accidental gunshot while on a train. This happened just two days before he was supposed to go to Africa for the World Cup with the national team. He was only 20 years old and almost became paralyzed. He had to use a wheelchair for a whole year.
But Sandeep did not give up! He worked incredibly hard to recover from his injury. It's an amazing story because he not only got better but also returned to play for India in the 2010 World Cup. His comeback showed incredible strength and determination.
Political Career
In 2019, Sandeep Singh was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Pehowa area in Haryana. He was sworn in as a Minister. He became the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and also the Minister of Printing and Stationery. This means he helps make decisions about sports and youth activities, and also about printing and stationery for the government.
Achievements in Hockey
- 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Sandeep scored the most goals and was named the "Man of the Tournament."
- 2012 London Olympics Qualifier: He was the top goal scorer with 16 goals. He scored five goals in the final game!
- April 2004 Junior Asia Cup: He was the top scorer, with 16 goals.
- 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Sandeep was the top scorer.
- 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Sandeep was the top scorer again.
- 2010 Asian Games: He was the top scorer, with 11 goals.
- 2010: He set a world record for the fastest drag-flick, at 145 kilometers per hour.
- 2013 Hockey India League: He was the top scorer with 11 goals in 12 games.
- 2014 Hockey India League: He was the top scorer again with 11 goals.
Awards and Recognition
- 2010: He received the Arjuna Award, which is a very special award given for great achievements in sports in India.
- 2012: He won a gold medal at the Olympic qualifier tournament.
- 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: He was named the "Best Player" of the tournament.
