Harmanpreet Singh is invaluable to Indian hockey's Olympic medal dream

Harmanpreet Singh

India defender and drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh, 25, emerged the hero of their FIH Pro League victories over Olympic champions Argentina in their own backyard, at Buenos Aires, recently.

Harmanpreet scored as many as four times in the double header, taking India to fourth position in the nine-team league. He netted thrice off penalty corner drag flicks and once in the shootout. India won the first match 3-2 via the shootout (2-2 at full time) on April 11 and the second 3-0 with a dominant performance the following day.

Harmanpreet netted both goals in the first match (21st and 60th minutes) and added another in the shootout. In the second, he opened the scoring in the 11th minute after which Lalit Upadhyay (25th) and Mandeep Singh (58th) added a goal each.

Harmanpreet's feat is special for a number of reasons. Firstly, he breached the water-tight defences of Argentina's veteran and in-form goalkeeper Juan Manual Vivaldi, 41, not just with his drag-flicks but also one-on-one during the shootout. Such was Vivaldi's form that Team India's most experienced drag flicker Rupinderpal Singh failed to get a single flick past him. Young drag flicker Varun Kumar also tried, but did not succeed. However, Harmanpreet beat Vivaldi with a couple of sharp efforts down the middle (to the goalkeeper's left) perfectly bisecting the 'keeper and the defender manning the left post. With over 100 international caps, Harmanpreet has enough experience to handle pressure too which is why he managed to hold his nerve and convert the equaliser in the first match with seconds to go for the final hooter.

Besides his drag flick expertise, Harmanpreet was effective and authoritative in his defensive tackling too, time and again, thwarting moves from Argentina's persistent forwards, Martin Ferreiro and Lucas Vila.

Harmanpreet will be a key player as India look to finish on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics which is just 99 days away. If he continues to be sharp in his tackles and consistent in his drag flicks an Olympic medal for Indian hockey is a definite possibility.