Mohali, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : In Mohali, former hockey player Rajinder Singh expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recognizing his efforts to nurture young talent in sports. During the 138th episode of the “Mann Ki Baat” program, Modi commended Singh’s contributions to promoting hockey in Punjab.
Reflecting on the Prime Minister’s praise, Singh stated, “I lack words to thank Prime Minister Modi. He acknowledged our grassroots efforts in hockey and the Round Glass initiative. I have been involved with hockey for over 40 years and have won an Olympic gold medal as a player. The government has honored me with the Arjuna Award.”
Singh highlighted his coaching achievements, noting that his team secured medals in the Junior World Cup and the Asia Cup, earning him the Dronacharya Award. He detailed the roadmap set by their CEO, Gurpreet Singh, which aims to scout young talent in villages, provide them with training, and support their development through academies.
“We have established 60 centers in Punjab, complete with coaches to train the children in hockey. Additionally, we have installed two astroturf fields in New Chandigarh for exposure. All teams participate in tournaments organized here, allowing us to develop players step by step,” he explained.
Discussing the Round Glass Hockey Academy, Singh praised the technical team, which includes professional coaches and scientists who have made significant strides over the past six years. Many junior players who trained there have already represented national teams, and Singh is optimistic that more will follow suit.
He also congratulated both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams for reaching the semifinals at the 2026 Asian Games, expressing hope that they would bring home gold medals. “The women’s team performed admirably at the recent World Cup. Winning gold at the Asian Games could pave the way for Olympic qualification,” he noted.
Singh emphasized the importance of keeping youth away from drugs and negative influences by opening more centers to redirect their focus towards sports. He is confident that players from the Round Glass Academy will represent the Indian national team in the future.
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