ROURKELA: Affan Yousuf glided through the opposition defence immediately after pushback to make a sensational pass to Sukhjeet Singh, who tapped in to put Bengal Tigers on the board 23 seconds into the game, scoring the fastest goal of the Hockey India League (HIL).
The speedy midfielder was in the act throughout the 60-minute contest against Delhi SG Pipers, assisting in three of their four goals, helping the Rupinder Pal Singh-led outfit win 4-1 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here.
The 30-year-old has been outstanding in the HIL, helping Tigers to top the standings with three straight wins. Just like in HIL, the player from Bhopal has been putting in relentless efforts in the domestic circuit with a hope of returning to the national set-up. But his efforts have not yielded results. Affan knows that this could be his time with everyone in Indian hockey focused on this eight-team league.
"Age is just a number. As long as you're performing, the gates are open," said Affan, who guided Petroleum Sports Promotion Board to the Inter-Departmental nationals win in September, which bolstered his confidence of getting picked in the HIL auction.
This story is from the January 06, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Bengaluru.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 06, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Bengaluru.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Jimmy Shergill: OTT ne mere career ka graph utha diya
He has been a part of the Hindi film industry for 28 years, but Jimmy Shergill believes that it's the OTT medium that has helped him explore the lead space in a much better way.
Haaye jhumka! Aamir Khan's silver earrings steal the show
Actor Aamir Khan made a rare appearance with his younger son Azad Rao Khan (13) on Sunday at a restaurant in Bandra (Mumbai).
The curious case of Vidya Balan's post for Rohit Sharma
Actor Vidya Balan has drawn backlash after she made a post on social media in support of India cricketer Rohit Sharma.
No matter what I do, my son will always be my priority: Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza has been jetsetting since her appointment as an ambassador for Dubai's Sports Council in December. But her busy year didn't keep her from ringing in 2025 with her \"forever date\", her six-year-old son Izhaan Mirza Malik.
Love lockdown: OYO's new rule for unmarried couples sparks mixed reactions
On Sunday, the hotel booking platform OYO introduced a new policy that prohibits unmarried couples from checking into its partner hotels in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Tough questions for India after two debacles in a row
A second series loss raises more questions than answers as head coach's performance comes under the lens
Gambhir, Sharma face BCCI scrutiny
India have lost six of their last eight Tests; they were saved by the weather in Brisbane while the Perth Test win was the only bright spot.
Fan, Ma Long out of tour events over row with ITTF
These are somewhat turbulent times in world table tennis.
How Far Are Our Leagues From Introducing VAR?
Could take up to 18 months to implement it, says Trevor Kettle, federation's chief refereeing officer
Five-Year Plans Back at Niti Aayog to Cut Emissions
Five-year plans that made an unceremonious exit nearly a decade ago are making a quiet comeback, this time to handhold India's decarbonization journey.
