New Delhi, Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh sees shades of his own aggressive game in Harmanpreet Singh, terming him “trump card” at the FIH World Cup, beginning this week.
Key Factors
Jugraj, whose promising international career was cut short by a car accident in 2003, rates Harmanpreet among the world’s top three drag-flickers and feels the India captain has developed into a player the team can rely on in crucial moments. Jugraj, 43, was the star of India’s title-winning campaign at the 2001 Junior World Cup in Hobart and was regarded as one of the finest drag-flickers of his generation, alongside Pakistan’s Sohail Abbas and Germany’s Florian Kunz. Therefore, he will have to innovate and surprise the opposing teams,” he said.
“Harmanpreet is currently one of the top three drag-flickers in the world. He has been playing brilliantly since the Tokyo Olympics. “Every team will target Harman and his game will be thoroughly video-analysed. “Goals are scored through the coordination of the pusher, stopper and flicker. The ball pusher is the most important player for the flicker. If he delivers a good ball and the stopper performs well, no one can stop the goal. Jugraj is confident the current Indian side has the quality and preparation to end the country’s long wait for a World Cup medal.
A player who consistently performs well when the team needs him is a ‘trump card’, and I think that player will be Harmanpreet,” Jugraj told PTI in an interview. What matters is your skill, how much you are able to assist in scoring goals and how you coordinate with other players,” he said. All three should have a good plan,” he said.
“In today’s hockey, it is not just about being a drag-flicker.
