Sukhvinder's rise shows grit in the face of tragedy

At 17, Sukhvinder is the youngest member of the junior India hockey team, carrying a weight of expectations in the backline. Coach CR Kumar rests assured on the bench that every time an opposition striker charges towards the Indian goal, he will have to get past Sukhvinder before reaching the keeper.

The sense of responsibility is ingrained in Sukhvinder, having learnt it the hard way while growing up.

The defender was 14 when his father, a labourer in Habri village of Kaithal district of Haryana, was electrocuted that left him incapable of working.

Immediately burdened with the economic responsibilities, Sukhvinder's mother was out searching for a job when she died in a road accident the very next day. This was in 2021.

The emotional as well as financial burden of the father, two sisters and Sukhvinder fell on the shoulders of the eldest brother who began working as a labourer. One of the sisters also started working as a farm hand to make ends meet.

As things got tougher at home, Sukhvinder realised that he can no longer be a 'burden' on his family. There was only one thing that could help him he thought-hockey.