Knowing his calibre, everybody knows Prabhjot Singh is no novice to hockey lovers. This mercurial forward has shown his brilliance and exuberance on umpteen occasions, bailing out his team from near precarious situations. He once formed the famous troika with his Punjab team-mates Gaganajit Singh and Deepak Thakur and has won many a battle for India in the past.
However, Prabhjot has been in and out of the team after the Athens Olympics for reasons which have more to do with his equation with the authorities at helm, rather than his form and fitness on the field. Having lost favours with the selectors, the wily forward last wore the national colours in the 2010 World Cup. What was more painful for the Arjuna Awardee was the fact that he was not even considered among the players called for the camps prior to many international tournaments after the World Cup.

However, the prolific forward has now been given a call to participate in the lucrative World Series Hockey (WSH) and he is highly confident to put up a good show in the tournament.

In an interview with Shraddha Bagdwal of Indian Sports News, he talks about WSH, Indian Hockey and more. Excerpts:

ISN:  You have been given a call to participate in WSH. How does it feel to be a part of a new and innovative concept like WSH?
Prabhjot: I am very happy to be a part of WSH. It’s one of its kind and first league in which all hockey stars would play together. It would provide a lot of opportunities for the junior hockey players to showcase their talent and would also help them in gaining experience from the senior players and foreign coaches.

ISN: How do you think WSH would benefit the cause of Indian Hockey?
Prabhjot: WSH is a concept which would run on Parallel lines with IPL. Like how IPL has changed the fortune of so many cricketers, in the same way WSH would do to upcoming hockey players. It would bring players in limelight.

ISN: Do you think WSH is here to stay or meet the same fate as PHL?
Prabhjot: The whole concept of PHL was good but WSH is much better. The concept of WSH is different from PHL and it will provide opportunity to the players. From what I see, it would stay and change the face of Indian Hockey.

ISN: It has been more than one-and-a-half year now that you have been out of International arena. How tough has it been for you?
Prabhjot: It has been indeed very tough. But there is nothing much possibly I can do about it. I am ready and fit to play for the national side again, but by comeback looks grim as I have associated myself with the WSH. They will never call me back.

ISN: How well prepared you think you are for the WSH?
Prabhjot: I am fully prepared for it and have worked hard on my fitness. Domestic tournaments like Nehru hockey are giving me good match practice before the WSH. I am eagerly waiting for it to begin.


ISN:  Do you think you still have it in you to make it to the national side?
Prabhjot: Yes of course. I still have some 2-3 years of hockey left in me. I am experienced and have performed well everywhere that I have played. So it is for the authorities at helm to think and decide.

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