Indian Hockey Star Overcomes Paralysis To Play In Paris Olympics

An Incredible Indian hockey player overcame paralysis and is gearing up to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He is none other than Indian team’s Sukhjeet Singh. Six years ago, a back injury left his right leg temporarily paralyzed, but Sukhjeet overcame a “difficult” phase in his life to earn a spot in the Indian men’s hockey team heading to the Olympics.

He expressed gratitude for his selection in a Hockey India release. He wants to prove his worth early in the games on July 26. The 28-year-old forward will compete in his first Olympics. He said that playing in the Olympics has always been a dream for him and his family.  Born in Jalandhar, he started playing hockey at the age of 6 inspired by his father, Ajith Singh. But an unfortunate injury left him temporarily paralyzed.

“Now, I am determined to play my part in the team to the best of my ability and repay the trust of my coach and teammates by giving it my all in Paris. Being bedridden for about 5 months was physically and mentally debilitating. I couldn’t walk or play hockey, and even simple tasks like eating by myself were impossible,” he added. He says his family, especially his father, whose unwavering support and belief in his ability kept him going at a time when he felt like giving up.

“His refusal to lose hope was instrumental in helping me get back on my feet. His determination to see me back on the field was infectious, and it gave me strength to overcome pain and challenges,” he said. After recovering from injury, Sukhjeet finally made his debut in the 2021–22 FIH Pro League season against Spain, donning the coveted blue jersey and scoring a goal. Over the past 2 years, he has shown his incredible talent and consistency, scoring 20 goals in 70 matches for the country.

He played a key role in the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, scoring 3 goals in 6 games. He was also part of the gold medal-winning teams during the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai last year and the Hangzhou Asian Games. Recently, he contributed significantly to his team in the FIH Hockey Pro League, scoring 5 goals.

“The last 2 years have been incredibly rewarding for me. Every match has been a learning experience, pushing me towards the team success. My focus is now fully on the Paris Olympics, and I am determined to give my best to help our team achieve top honors,” he said.